Archive of Our Own

As soon as Childe reaches Liyue Harbor, he can’t help but breathe a sigh of relief, inhaling the salty air with a smile. He loves his home country, of course, but lying in bed for weeks on end recovering from his seemingly endless battle was nothing short of suffocating. Childe has embraced the frigid temperatures of Snezhnaya all his life, but after so much time spent alone, he craves just a bit of warmth. Liyue is hardly Natlan, but its familiarity is far more comforting, not to mention the people there. 

Well, one person, to be specific.

Childe unlocks the door of his apartment, pushing the door open and managing to only stumble a bit as he steps inside. Despite the days he’s spent on them, his crutches are as much a hindrance as they are a help, and Childe can’t say he’s unhappy to finally be able to lean them against the wall. He’s less happy when they (to be honest, predictably) clatter to the ground, but he can’t be bothered to pick them back up. All Childe wants to do tonight is let his muscles rest. Tomorrow will be far more interesting, after all, and it’s been a long journey.

He half leans on the wall as he makes his way to the bathroom, just grateful for something to keep him steady. It’s not like Childe can’t stay upright or anything, but he’s tired, alright? As he pushes the bathroom door open, an internal war wages in his mind. Half of him wants to take a shower so he can go to sleep already, and the other half reminds Childe that he doesn’t have a stool to sit on, and slipping and cracking his head open is about the worst gift he could give Zhongli. It’s a fair point, Childe concedes, and he reaches down to plug the drain, starting the water to run a bath. 

Soon enough, he can turn the faucet off, and Childe peels off his clothes before clambering into the bathtub with far less grace than he’d like to admit. Still, he doesn’t splash everywhere, which is all he can realistically hope for at this point. Childe lets out a sigh, feeling the tension in his muscles begin to ease as he relaxes in the water. Everything is quiet, a complete opposite to the constant noise he had to endure on his journey here, and the water takes a weight off his body. He closes his eyes for a moment, taking a deep breath, and—

Childe is anything but comfortable, the water around him slowing him down, inhibiting his movements as he fights desperately, fending off the whale’s attacks with everything he has, an unrelenting battle he’s trapped in, a dreamlike manifestation of his own hubris, but he can’t wake up from this nightmarish reality and he’s not strong enough—

Childe’s eyes snap open, and he sits up in an instant, heaving himself out of the bathtub and tumbling onto the floor as he takes desperate, shuddering breaths. He’s breathing air. The only water around Childe is what he’s dripping onto the floor, and he reaches out to snatch his Vision from his pile of clothes, holding it tight to his chest. If only he hadn’t been foolish enough to leave it behind, maybe Childe would have been able to kill that wretched beast in a fair fight. He can practically hear his master’s disappointed voice, even though she didn’t say a thing when she finally deigned to rescue him. She hardly even bothered to give him her trademark disappointed scowl before sending him back to Teyvat with a flick of her fingers, leaving him even more battered and bruised than she did the first time. 

It takes a full minute of trying and failing to calm his breathing before Childe can even wrap a towel around himself, and another ten before he can find the strength to drag himself to his feet and make his way to bed.

Of course, it seems Childe hasn’t failed enough recently, because he trips over his own feet in the middle of the room, falling to the floor in a heap of limbs. He’s about to seriously consider falling asleep right there, because getting to bed seems to be far more trouble than it’s worth, when a golden glint catches his eye. Childe frowns, reaching forward to pick up what’s caught the faint light from underneath his bed, and he opens his hand to see a miniature dragon sitting in his palm. 

Childe’s lips slowly curl upwards as he recognizes the hairclip as the one he gave to Zhongli a few visits ago. Zhongli had accepted it with a warm smile, his eyes lighting up and matching the cor lapis of the engravings as he used the clip to pull his hair back.  

It had stayed in Zhongli’s hair all the way through dinner and until they had gotten back to Childe’s apartment, at which point it must have come loose and fallen under the bed, because Childe distinctly remembers Zhongli’s hair framing his face perfectly, the long strands becoming more wild with each thrust he made into Childe. 

The memory brings a warmth to Childe’s chest, and somehow, he finds the energy to drag himself to his feet and collapse into bed, the hairclip still clutched in his grip. Tomorrow he’ll be able to see Zhongli, and all will be well.

Childe wakes slowly, blinking at the faint sunlight as he sits up, a welcome change from his last few weeks of waking up in the middle of the night in a pool of sweat. He doesn’t remember what he dreamed about, but he knows it was something comforting. The change in environment seems to already be doing Childe some good, and he’s hardly even done anything yet. 

He uncurls his fist, which somehow managed to clutch onto the hairclip throughout the entire night, so tightly that it left marks on his palm and fingers. Childe gently sets it on his bedside table with a smile. He’ll have to return it to Zhongli soon, but that can wait until he comes back to his apartment. It wouldn’t do to show up with a re-used gift, after all. Not only would it be impolite, but finding gifts for Zhongli happens to be one of Childe’s most favored pastimes.  

Few things are quite as rewarding as the way Zhongli’s eyes light up when Childe presents him with a gift that he particularly adores. Finding something perfect is a rush, one that courses through Childe’s body like he’s at the climax of a rewarding battle. Of course, Childe can always be persuaded to purchase a great many things for Zhongli, especially when the god’s eyes alight on a particularly beautiful piece, but Childe is most proud of himself when he can make Zhongli smile all on his own. 

Hopefully, today will be no different, and Childe runs through his internal checklist as he gets ready for the day, putting on his finest uniform. He may be on mandatory medical leave, but Childe is still a warrior above all, and a Snezhnayan representative just below. It wouldn’t do to present informally within the public eye. 

Childe messes with his hair in the mirror for a few minutes (okay, more than a few, but come on, it takes work to keep it that artfully disarrayed) before making his way to the door, where he stops for a minute. Looks at his crutches still lying on the floor where they fell last night. He’ll be out for more than a little while today, but Childe feels far better today. His legs hardly even ache, and it’ll be good to give his shoulders a rest. It’ll be fine, and Childe opens the door, more than happy to be unencumbered for once as he heads to Wanmin Restaurant to inquire about their current staff. 

Xiangling, as it turns out, is away at a cooking competition, so it seems they’ll have to settle for the next best option. Thankfully, the reservation at Liuli Pavilion is hardly difficult to make, what with Childe’s reputation, and there’s a spring in his step as he makes his way to Mingxing Jewelry. He loves looking at pretty things, but he can’t compare to Zhongli, if what he says every time they’re together is any indication. Either way, Childe wants to find the perfect gift, and before long, he spots a beautiful bracelet as he scans the cases. 

The delicate golden band is set with onyx, the tiny gemstones curling around the large topaz in the center, gleaming in the daylight. On anyone else, Childe can see how it might look gaudy, but nothing could ever outshine Zhongli. 

Childe leaves a generous tip for Xingxi, far more than required simply for the gift box, but she’s always been helpful, and Childe is in a wonderful mood today. 

The bell above the door to Wangsheng Funeral Parlor chimes gently, and Childe smiles at the familiar sound before realizing that the only other person in the room is Hu Tao, who sits behind the front desk with a professional smile.

“Looking for Zhongli?” she asks innocently, before winking and ruining her act. Childe absolutely does not blush. He’s a professional. He doesn’t get flustered, even on unofficial business. Absolutely not.

 “I am, in fact. I was hoping I could book him for a consultancy.” 

“Unfortunately…he’s out with another client. But! He should have been back about an hour ago. So if you want to go find him, it’d be a benefit to us both…”

Childe can’t help but roll his eyes. “Doing your job for you now, am I?” 

Hu Tao laughs. “Are you telling me you’re not interested?”

“That depends. Are you going to tell me where he is or not?”

Hu Tao leans forward, resting her chin in her hand and tapping her fingers innocently.  “Hmm, well…Client confidentiality and all…”

Childe raises an eyebrow, and Hu Tao continues with an evil smirk. “However, despite my misgivings with the Fatui, Zhongli trusts you. So if he didn’t want to deal with the paperwork, he should have reconsidered his…relationships.” She puts a particular emphasis on the last word, but Childe’s done blushing. Not that he blushed before. He’s above that.

“Anyway, last I heard, they were headed to the waterfall in Lisha,” Hu Tao continues. “I assume you know how to get there?”

Childe scoffs. “Of course.” He’s been there with Zhongli himself, after all, and it was just as beautiful as Zhongli had described it. Of course, there were plenty of monsters on the journey there, but that only made it better, in Childe’s opinion. If there was ever anything Childe liked more than a good fight, it was a good fight with Zhongli, and though the swathes of hilichurls they cut through were pitifully disappointing opponents, Childe’s breath was already growing heavier as he turned to Zhongli with a grin on his face and a question in his eyes. 

Zhongli smiled back, lifting his polearm in invitation, and Childe wasted no time, launching himself at Zhongli with a giddy laugh. With the adrenaline already coursing through his veins, their spar escalated quickly, but Childe soon noticed how reluctant Zhongli was to damage the environment around them. Childe responded in kind, careful to ensure that their dance of blades was far less destructive than it could have been. 

As such, Childe was so focused on holding back that Zhongli, with far more experience in concealing his true power, had Childe on his back all too soon with a sharp feint swiftly followed by a forceful thrust that swept Childe off his feet. Before Childe could get up, Zhongli was already on top of him, pinning him down with the tip of his spear at Childe’s throat and a self-satisfied smirk painting his lips. 

“Lord Harbinger,” he drawled, his voice dripping with a superiority that set Childe’s blood alight. “You’re trespassing on the Geo Archon’s territory. And it’s hardly the first time, is it?”

Childe smirked. “Guilty as charged.” Speaking made Zhongli’s spear dig deeper into his throat, slicing a shallow cut into Childe’s neck, but he didn’t react, too busy staring into Zhongli’s eyes defiantly.

Zhongli tilted his head, not bothering to pull his spear away as he clicked his tongue disapprovingly. “I would tell you to be careful, but something tells me pain isn’t a powerful motivator for you…”

Childe’s smirk only grew wider. “If you want to cause a diplomatic incident, by all means, go right ahead.”

Zhongli hummed, not looking the slightest bit concerned by Childe’s threat. “I don’t need to, Lord Harbinger,” he said innocently. “There are far more suitable punishments for your continued disrespect of Rex Lapis.” 

His grip on his spear tightened almost imperceptibly, and Childe suddenly felt a chill around his wrists. He could hardly look over to confirm, but the sensation was hardly unfamiliar, and his assumptions were confirmed when he felt cold stone enclose around his neck as well. His limbs were trapped, locked in stone that would only bend to Zhongli’s will, and Childe was completely at Zhongli’s mercy.

Zhongli pulled his spear away, tossing it to the side and leaning forward to thumb at Childe’s cheek. “Pretty,” he murmured. “I’ll enjoy this.”  

The words snapped Childe out of the haze he’d already started to sink into, and he jerked his head away from the touch as best he could with his neck pinned down, which is to say, not much.

Zhongli clicked his tongue disapprovingly. “Now, now,” he purred, tracing his finger down Childe’s throat. “Learn some proper respect.”

“You’re going to have to try harder than that to earn my respect,” Childe retorted, but was quickly fading. Zhongli’s hand was moving lower, tracing down Childe’s chest with teasing, feather-light touches, and Childe’s breath hitched.

“Is that so?” Zhongli asked, smirking slightly. Childe bit his tongue, nodding shakily, but Zhongli was clearly unconvinced, his fingers beginning to tease even lower down as he watched Childe’s reactions with unblinking eyes. By the time Zhongli reached his crotch, Childe was uncomfortably hard, and he let out a whine as he squirmed under the too-light touch. 

“See, what I think,” Zhongli continued, as if Childe hadn’t responded at all, “is that you just want attention, Lord Harbinger. You’re desperate for it, though you would never dare to admit that, so you came here in hopes that I would find you and teach you the lesson you deserve. You want me to ruin you. Don’t you?” 

His eyes were the picture of innocence, but his hands were positively sinful, teasing Childe so mercilessly that the only response he was immediately able to give was a collection of breathy gasps. “Please,” he finally got out, in a desperate whine, and Zhongli smirked. 

“If you insist.”

Later, Childe laid his head on Zhongli’s lap as they watched the sunset over the harbor. Zhongli’s back rested against the trunk of a magnificent sandbearer tree as he held Childe close, running his fingers through Childe’s hair. His other hand was caressing Childe’s exposed skin, albeit far more innocently than before, with nothing but the gentlest, most delicate touches. 

Childe let out a contented sigh, sinking into a slight haze as he often did, when Zhongli made a concerned noise, and the world snapped back into focus. Zhongli was frowning down at Childe’s chest, tracing the outlines of some of the deeper marks he had made, both with his spear and his claws. “I don’t think I can heal these here. But maybe I can stop them from leaving lasting marks…”

“No!” Childe cried out, his hand shooting out to grab Zhongli’s wrist. 

“But…I injured you,” Zhongli said, his confusion evident. “I don’t want to leave you hurt.”

Childe smiled, moving his hand to rest on top of Zhongli’s. “I’m proud of everything my scars represent,” he said. “I wouldn’t get rid of any of them, even if I could. But none of them were…purposeful. I chose the fights, but never like this. I want your marks on me.”

“…Oh.” Childe couldn’t be sure if the light flush on Zhongli’s cheeks was just from the sunset on the horizon, but either way, it disappeared soon enough as Zhongli tilted his head, smiling softly. “So…this was okay?”

Childe grinned. “Yeah. But I want a real fight next time.”

Zhongli laughed, poking Childe’s nose with the tip of a claw and making him yelp. “Was this not strenuous enough for you? I still beat you, didn’t I?”

Childe huffed, but there was no real annoyance to it. “This place is beautiful.”

Zhongli quirked an eyebrow. “But…?”

“But I want to see how you fare against my Abyssal powers,” Childe said, a hopeful smile on his face. 

Zhongli laughed again, his eyes glowing brighter. “Alright. Next time, I’ll bring you to the stone forest of Guyun and you can try to make as much of a mess as I did.”

Childe’s grin turned from hopeful to determined. “I won’t hold back, then. Are you sure?”

“Try as hard as you’d like, Childe,” Zhongli responded, a mischievous smirk playing across his lips. “I’ll tame that wild little Abyss thing just as easily as I tamed you today.”

Childe’s cheeks grew hot, arousal already pulsing in his veins in anticipation of their next battle. “I can’t wait,” he murmured.

 “I can tell,” Zhongli said, a teasing note in his voice. “Tell you what. I won’t fight you again tonight, but if you’re up for another round by the time we get back to your apartment…”

Childe leapt to his feet instantly, offering a hand to Zhongli to help him up and drawing another laugh out of the god. 

“So predictable,” he said affectionately, taking Childe’s hand and standing up.

Childe laughed good-naturedly. “Ah, you know you love me.”

“Are you sure about that?”

Childe blinks, the voice tearing him out of his memories and back to the present. “What?”

“You’re sure you know how to get there? You look a little lost,” Hu Tao says, staring at Childe with a funny look on her face.

Childe rolls his eyes. “I’ll be fine, Director Hu. Thank you for the information.”

“You’re welcome.” Childe doesn’t quite catch what she adds under her breath, but her smirk says enough. Childe can tell it’s merely playful teasing, and Childe leaves the funeral parlor with a smile. For a moment, Childe considers going back to his apartment to get his crutches—his injuries are beginning to ache once again, and it’s not exactly a short walk to Lisha—but Childe is a warrior. He’s endured far worse pain in battle and still managed to come out ahead. Besides, Childe doesn't need Zhongli worrying over him—or worse, having Zhongli think any less of him. He’ll be fine.

…Alright, maybe Childe should have just sucked it up and gone back to get his crutches anyway, because he’s hardly half the way there, and his legs are already trembling with effort and burning with pain. Still, he’s come this far, and going back now would only make things worse. 

Instead, Childe focuses his attention on his surroundings, doing his best to distract himself with the landscapes that will always remind him of Zhongli. The light shining through the trees reflects the warmth in his eyes, the rocks his steadfast presence, the cloudless skies his unwavering control…

Childe stumbles, nearly tripping over his own feet, and okay, maybe he needs to pay a little more attention to actually walking. Still, the thought of Zhongli is a welcome one, one that helps give Childe the strength to make it up the steep cliffs where he and Zhongli once fought. 

Childe spots a flash of dark clothing, and sure enough, it’s Zhongli sitting beneath a familiar tree overlooking the waterfall. Childe takes a step forward—and then freezes, because he can now clearly see it’s no normal client Zhongli is with. They’re sitting far too close for that, and Childe’s heart sinks as he realizes it’s not just Zhongli’s power emanating from beneath the tree. If Childe weren’t so attuned to Zhongli’s presence, he likely wouldn’t be able to notice, but there’s a decidedly dangerous feeling to the power in the air, nothing like Zhongli’s steady, protective aura, although Zhongli seems anything but wary of the man beside him. 

He must be at least an adeptus, and in any other situation, Childe would probably be eager for a fight with him. As it is, though, Childe can only watch, bile rising in his throat, as Zhongli brushes the adeptus’s hair behind his ear with adoration clear in his eyes, and the adeptus blushes, looking away bashfully. It’s only then that Childe can place him, and his heart sinks even lower. The adeptus can only be Xiao, Conqueror of Demons, who has served Zhongli for thousands of years. Who Childe doesn’t have a chance of comparing to, no matter how much he does for Zhongli. He can’t compete with practically eternity in comparison to his pathetic mortal existence. Even if he spent the rest of his life with Zhongli, even if Zhongli wanted him to, it would hardly be a brief moment in the eons Zhongli has spent in this world. An insignificant speck among the countless stars shining brighter than Childe could ever hope to.

By the Tsaritsa, all that time in Fontaine really did something to his thoughts. Childe’s always been theatrical, but that cursed place heightened it a thousandfold, especially in situations like these. Situations when he would rather not be able to think about anything at all. 

Childe’s eyes start to sting, and he turns on his heel, fleeing down the mountain before he makes even more a fool of himself. His vision blurs, but a flash of color burns itself into his mind—a magnificent hunk of cor lapis all but appears on the path ahead, and at his pace, Childe trips right over it.

The last thing he sees is the ground coming up to meet him, all too fast—and with a burst of pain, the world goes dark. Maybe it’s for the best.

Childe is accustomed to luxury better than anyone, save the Tsaritsa herself and perhaps a few of his fellow Harbingers. Abyss knows Signora never shied away from the most exquisite fabrics, but Childe was never far behind, especially not when it came to re-furnishing his childhood home for his family. He might be out in the field more often than not, but he’s still more than acquainted with the finer things in life. 

Where he is now, though, is unlike anything he’s ever experienced. It feels like he’s resting on a sea of clouds, more comfortable than he’s ever been in his life, and though he thinks his head should be throbbing, there’s no hint of pain as he feels gentle fingers carding through his hair. 

He blinks slowly, the softly lit room coming into focus—and Childe’s memories come flooding back as he recognizes the form of the man holding him close like nothing's wrong. 

“There you are,” Zhongli says with a soft smile. “Feeling better?”

Childe tears himself out of Zhongli’s grip with a snarl, standing up and scowling down at Zhongli. “What the fuck do you think you’re doing?” he hisses.

Zhongli frowns. “I know you’re attached to your scars, Childe, but I was a little more focused on getting you to my adeptal realm so I could make sure you wouldn’t bleed out. That was a nasty fall you must have taken.”

Adeptal realm. That would explain the way Zhongli’s practically glowing with power, as well as the complete lack of doors or windows in the room. Zhongli would hardly have to walk to get anywhere here.

“It’s not about a stupid scar,” Childe growls.

Zhongli’s frown deepens with faux concern. “Then what’s wrong? You’re usually good at avoiding unnecessary injuries. Did something happen?”

“Did something happen?” Childe mocks. “Stop pretending like you care. We both know the truth.”

Zhongli’s really trying hard to make his act look convincing, because he looks completely taken aback by Childe’s words. “What? Of course I care about you, Childe. Surely you know that.”

“I don’t know what’s real, Morax!” Childe snarls, and Zhongli flinches. Good. “Maybe you kept me around because I kept buying you things. Maybe you just wanted another whore to fuck. I’d say it probably felt good to have the Harbinger of another nation beneath you, but you’re probably above that, aren’t you? All I know is you don’t fucking deserve me! I wanted you more than anything, I let myself fall in love even though I knew it was a bad idea, because I trusted you, and—”

“Childe—” Zhongli begins, his face twisted in fake hurt. Childe knows better than to fall for it. It’s almost convincing, especially with that pleading tone of voice, but Childe’s not listening, not anymore.

“I guess all you cared about was the power you held over me, and you used me, and I let you, and—”

“Childe, please listen to me—”

Childe snaps, whirling on Zhongli with a furious glare. “Shut up! Haven’t you hurt me enough already?”

“I love you, Childe.” Zhongli’s voice is quiet, but his low, rich timbre echoes through the room nevertheless, and the change in tone stuns Childe for a few moments. “I don’t know what’s gotten you like this, but we’ll figure it out, alright?”

Childe breaks out of his daze, snarling, “No you don’t. Stop lying. You love him.”

Zhongli frowns, having the audacity to look confused for a moment. “Who…oh.” The realization dawns on his face, and Childe laughs humorlessly.

“Yeah, oh. I’d ask what you have to say for yourself, but I don’t want any more of your lies. Now let me out of here.”

“I don’t—well, I do, but not—”

“Did you not hear me? Let me out of your Abyss-damned world and get out of my life!”

Zhongli stands up, stepping forward until he’s right in front of Childe. His presence so close, once exhilarating, now does nothing but make Childe want to get away, but there’s nowhere to go, and when Zhongli reaches forward to touch Childe’s wrist, Childe reacts on instinct, conjuring a water blade and slashing out before he can think twice.

Zhongli frowns, gently lifting his hands up and away from Childe in surrender. The gash on his hand glows gold, then heals itself over perfectly, looking like nothing happened to it in a matter of seconds. “Okay. I won’t touch you. And I won’t come any closer. But I’m afraid that if I let you go, I’ll never get you back, and that thought terrifies me, Childe. So please, hear me out.”

Childe scowls. “I don’t exactly have a choice now, do I?”

Zhongli looks away, his lower lip trembling like he’s about to cry. Childe’s never seen him like this. Zhongli is always in control, always appears cool and collected and teasingly persuasive, nothing like the vulnerable man standing in front of Childe now. “I hate this,” he mutters before turning back to Childe with his jaw set. “You saw me with Xiao, yes?”

Childe scoffs, pointedly looking anywhere but into Zhongli’s eyes. “Obviously.”

Zhongli takes a deep breath. “I do love him. But I have loved all of my subjects, Childe. And never anything like I feel about you.”

Childe’s resolve wavers at the emotion in Zhongli’s voice, but he’s not buying it that easily. “Nice excuse. He’s not a regular subject, and we both know that.”

Zhongli sighs. “Would you like to tell the story yourself, or may I please explain?”

Childe responds with silence, and Zhongli continues, evidently satisfied by Childe’s ability to still do what he’s told. “Xiao has served me for thousands of years and never once complained. As the last remaining yaksha, his duties are far too numerous, even with the far more peaceful state of the world now, but he would never accept anything less. So what you saw was me attempting to ease his suffering, even the slightest bit, because I care about him greatly. I admire him as a warrior, as a dedicated subject, and one of my oldest, most faithful companions.

“But even if I did care for him in the same way I do you, Childe, it would never be the same. Xiao does my bidding because he is my subject, and he is my subject because he owes me his life. It wouldn’t be fair to ask a relationship like ours of him, because he would never say no to a request I would make of him, and as such, it would never be a relationship like ours.” He reaches out, seeming to want to take Childe’s hand before thinking better of it, pulling away before Childe can react, and he sighs instead.

“You have never been my subject, Childe. You’ve always given yourself to me willingly, and that’s what made me love you more than anything. You’ve never had to give me anything, but you did anyway. I’ve never wanted anyone like I want you, and I can’t imagine falling for anyone else.”

Childe stares at Zhongli, frozen in place as the words swim in his mind. They’re everything Childe could have wished for, but it’s too perfect to believe. Isn’t it? It’s too good to be true. But Childe’s lack of response seems to be answer enough for Zhongli, and his face falls.

“I’m sorry. I was afraid of telling you how I felt because I didn’t want to ruin things, but it seems I already have.” He flicks his hand, and the wall glows, a door appearing on the wall to their side. “That will take you back to Teyvat. I’ll leave you alone now.”

“What?” Childe croaks out, his voice finally catching up to his thoughts.

Zhongli frowns. “You said it yourself, I’ve hurt you enough. Isn’t this what you want?”

Childe shakes his head, furiously trying to blink back the tears pooling in his eyes. “That’s—that’s not what I want.” He sucks in a breath, his mind made up. Either Zhongli is the best liar in existence or he truly does care about Childe the way Childe had always hoped, and frankly, he can’t bring himself to care about the difference in this moment, because— “I want you,” he blurts out, refusing to let his voice shake. “I want to be yours.”

Zhongli takes an unconscious step forward, and if the way he looked at Xiao earlier was adoring, then the look he gives Childe now is ten times that, but with layers of hunger and obsession, and Childe can already feel his heartbeat quickening with arousal as Zhongli reaches a hand forward to cup his cheek, his touch heartbreakingly gentle in stark contrast to his eyes, which stare into Childe’s like he wants to devour him whole. “I want you more than anything,” he murmurs, and Childe’s breath hitches. He leans into the touch, his eyelids fluttering shut in invitation, and Zhongli accepts, capturing Childe’s lips in a fiery kiss while his hand snakes up the back of Childe’s neck, holding him close as his tongue hungrily invades Childe’s mouth. 

When he finally pulls away, Childe is breathing heavily, but the only change with Zhongli is his darkened pupils, somehow even more intense than before. “Mine,” he says, long having given up on trying to tamp down his possessiveness, but Childe wouldn’t dream of complaining. He just nods in return, leaning more of his weight into Zhongli’s grip, and Zhongli’s expression changes in an instant, a soft smile spreading across his lips. “Let’s get you off your feet, shall we?” he asks, and Childe looks down, ashamed of his weakness, but allows Zhongli to lead him to sit down nevertheless.

When he realizes it’s Zhongli’s bed they’re going back to, however, Childe frowns. They always did this at his apartment. It feels like he’s intruding on Zhongli’s space, even though the god is the one who brought him here in the first place. “Are you sure it’s okay if…” He trails off, hovering awkwardly without sitting down. Normally, Childe would adapt to the change in a heartbeat, eager to follow Zhongli’s lead in anything, but he finds himself overthinking far too often as of late. Maybe this is the real reason he’s not allowed back into the field right now. 

“Are you asking if my own bed is fit for you, Childe?” Zhongli asks, snapping Childe out of his thoughts. “Are you perhaps implying you hold a higher position than I, and thus deserve something more?” His tone is innocent, but his eyes betray him, a mischievous glint shining bright. 

“What if I were?” Childe asks, the corners of his lips beginning to curl upward into a familiar smirk, and Zhongli grins back. 

“Well,” he begins, his voice shifting to a low, seductive purr that Childe can feel in his bones, making him shiver as Zhongli takes his hand delicately. “I’d ask if you’d perhaps forgotten your place, love…” He smirks, tilting his head to the side ever-so-slightly. “Do you need a reminder?”

Childe squeezes Zhongli’s hand, holding on tight like he never wants to let go. He wants—no, he needs Zhongli’s stability right now. “Please,” he breathes.

“Alright, love. Come,” Zhongli says, tugging Childe’s hand and leading him back over to the bed. Childe lets himself be pulled along, following Zhongli to the center of the mattress and finally allowing himself to relax in Zhongli’s lap, leaning into the warmth of his body with a contented sigh. “You needn’t worry yourself with any of that. The only thing you need to focus on is being good for me. You can do that, can’t you?”

Childe nods quickly, and Zhongli laughs. “Perfect, love. Just like that. Let me take care of you.” It’s still unmistakably a command, but Zhongli’s voice is softer than usual as he runs a hand over Childe’s chest. That alone is enough to send a comforting warmth through him, not to mention the way that Zhongli calls him love practically makes Childe’s brain melt more each time. 

Zhongli’s hands make their way down to Childe’s hips, and he lifts Childe up off his lap, shifting them so Childe’s back against the pillows. Childe shivers as Zhongli hums quietly, unfastening the clasp of Childe’s jacket and slowly pushing it off his shoulders. Childe is hardly unused to Zhongli manhandling him, but the strength and ease with which he does it never fails to give Childe a heady rush. Time seems to slip away as Zhongli carefully removes the rest of Childe’s clothes, but he’s brought back to attention when Zhongli lets out a curious hm.

“These are all new,” he murmurs, tracing the thick scars carved into Childe’s skin by that godsforsaken whale. “You’ve been having fun since I saw you last, hm?”

“…Hardly,” Childe mutters. “Seems the Nation of Justice is anything but. I just wanted a good fight, and they arrested me for a whole slew of murders I didn’t commit.”

Zhongli raises an eyebrow. “And you were absolutely innocent, I’m sure.”

“I was!” Childe protests. “I take responsibility for my actions. And I only kill on the Tsaritsa’s orders, or when I have to, you know that! Besides, they didn’t even let me duel for my innocence! They dragged me away all because their stupid machine told them to!”

Zhongli threads his fingers through Childe’s hair, leaning forward to press his lips against his lover and kiss him gently before pulling back with a smile. “I’m only teasing, love,” he says. “I know you wouldn’t do something like that without reason.” 

Childe hums, his breathing evening out as Zhongli continues to play with his hair. “Thank you.”

“Of course. I know you, Childe. But if you didn’t get to fight there, then…what happened?” Zhongli asks, tracing over Childe’s largest new scar, the one on his arm that’s especially prominent over his bicep.

Childe shivers, and not just because of the feather-light touch. The directness of the question has him remembering all the worst parts about being trapped in the Abyss again, stuck in a neverending battle with that abominable whale that he didn’t have a chance of defeating, not with the lack of his Vision and how weak he was and—

“Childe, love? Are you with me?”

Childe starts, blinking rapidly before meeting Zhongli’s eyes with a weak smile. “Sorry. I’d just…rather not talk about it right now. Still hurts, you know?”

Zhongli pulls his hands away like they’ve been burned. “Right. Sorry.”

Childe blinks. “It’s not—you can touch me. It doesn’t hurt that much." He shifts forward a little, wincing, and Zhongli gives him a look, unconvinced. “No, really! It just aches a bit.” (It’s more than a bit, but scaring Zhongli off is the last thing Childe wants right now. Besides, he’s grown used to the pain, and Zhongli always helps it feel better anyway.)

“Well…I could help soothe those aches, if you’d like? I won’t do anything to your scars.”

Childe can’t help but smile. “That sounds nice.”

Zhongli returns his smile, and his hands begin to glow as they find their way back to Childe’s body, holding him in a firm grip as a rush of warmth enters him everywhere Zhongli touches, easing the strain in his muscles and ridding him of the constant aches he’s felt for so long by now. His skin remains mostly the same, with only a few blemishes fading, but by the time Zhongli reaches his thighs, Childe is visibly more relaxed than he has been in ages. 

“You were fighting for a long time, weren’t you, love?” Zhongli murmurs, working his power into Childe’s injuries. Childe nods, looking away. He shouldn’t be so affected by a mere mention of his battle, and yet just the thought of how long he was trapped in combat makes Childe feel like he’s drowning all over again. Still, Zhongli doesn’t mean any harm.

“Yeah,” he manages to choke out, focusing on the warmth from Zhongli’s touch in an attempt to keep himself grounded.

Zhongli hums. “Maybe too long, mm?” Childe can only bring himself to make a small noise in response, but Zhongli doesn’t seem to mind. “I can’t fault you for that, though. I know how hard it can be to leave.”

Childe’s not sure why, but his eyes are starting to sting. He sniffs, and— oh. Fuck. Zhongli looks up with a concerned look on his face. “Does something still hurt? I can—”

Childe shakes his head quickly, his lower lip trembling as he shivers,  leaning forward ever-so-slightly in pursuit of comfort. Zhongli’s quick to react, wrapping his arms around Childe and pulling him close, allowing Childe to rest his head on Zhongli’s shoulder as his own shoulders heave with inexplicable sobs.

“I’m here, love,” Zhongli murmurs. “For as long as you’ll have me.” 

Childe clutches Zhongli tighter, tears finally spilling down his cheeks and onto Zhongli’s robe. Being held like this isn’t perfect, but it still makes Childe feel safe, free of pain and finally able to let go, able to show his true emotions, and the truth is he’s been overwhelmed for months. In all honesty, it’s a wonder he didn’t burst into tears the moment Zhongli started petting his hair.

After Childe’s tears mostly subside, and he’s left just trembling in Zhongli’s arms, his lover presses a kiss to Childe’s head, still holding him tight just the way he likes. “What can I do?” he asks softly. 

Childe swallows, still not looking Zhongli in the eyes in favor of keeping his face buried in Zhongli’s shoulder. “Like I said before,” he mumbles. “Wanna be yours. …Please.”

Zhongli nods, tracing the back of Childe’s neck with a delicate finger. “Of course. Anything in particular?”

Usually, Childe likes everything to be a surprise, but… “Just…something grounding?” he asks quietly. “I’d like to…stay here.”

“Okay. Anything else?”

Childe shrugs. “You’re more creative than I am.” And usually better at knowing what I want anyway, but Childe keeps that part to himself.

“Alright. You trust me, love?”

Childe nods. After a minute, Zhongli sighs. “Verbal answer, Childe. You should know that by now.”

Childe swallows, pulling away from Zhongli’s embrace to look him in the eyes. “I trust you, Zhongli,” he murmurs, “Please…make me yours.”

“Well, since you asked so nicely,” Zhongli says, smiling as he brings his palm up to the back of Childe’s neck. Childe’s breath hitches. This is the one part of their play that’s always the same, but it never fails to make Childe shiver in excitement. He’s always prided himself on being independent, but some part of him deep down secretly loves the way Zhongli takes care of him like no one else ever has.

The feeling of cold, smooth stone slowly wraps itself around Childe’s neck, and although it’s heavy, Childe feels a thousand times lighter. His breaths begin to even out as Zhongli pulls his hand away, tracing down Childe’s spine idly.

“Feels good, love?” Zhongli asks. “Not too tight?”

Childe nods quickly. “‘S perfect.” His words are already starting to slur together, but Childe can’t bring himself to care. Not like this.

Zhongli smiles, pressing a kiss to Childe’s forehead before pulling back. “Good. Lie down on your stomach for me.”

Childe hurries to follow his instructions, turning and pressing his chest to the bed, spreading his limbs out like Zhongli tends to prefer. Instead of Geo binds encircling his limbs, though, Childe feels the bed shift, like Zhongli’s gotten up. He starts to turn his head to see what’s going on, but Zhongli’s teasing voice rings through the air before Childe can get the chance.

“Don’t peek unless you want to ruin the surprise,” he calls out. “I’ll be right back.”

Well. Childe grumbles under his breath, but Zhongli knows him too well. He does like surprises, so he stops himself from looking up, but that doesn’t mean he doesn’t pay attention to every sound Zhongli makes. Soft footsteps padding across the room. A drawer, maybe, being pulled open. A faint hm that makes Childe’s heart race, practically able to see the smirk on Zhongli’s face as he ponders his options. A quiet noise Childe can’t pinpoint, and then the drawer being shut again. Footsteps approaching the bed, and then no creak of springs as Zhongli climbs up behind him. Childe supposes there’s no need for them in a magical realm. 

A finger traces Childe’s arm, and though it’s a surprise, Childe doesn’t do anything but let out a content sigh, enjoying the gentle touch. 

“You look so pretty,” Zhongli purrs, tracing down his arm and taking Childe’s wrist in his hand. “Time to make you even prettier for me.”

Zhongli folds Childe’s arm behind his back, then repeats the process with the other, holding them together with one hand as he leans away, picking something up with the other. Finally, Childe finds out what Zhongli was retrieving when he got up as he feels a rope being wrapped around his lower arms, securing them together loosely before being pulled tight sharply, and Childe lets out a gasp, his back arching at the sting.

Zhonglii presses his fingers between the rope and Childe’s skin before pulling away, evidently satisfied, and reaches down underneath Childe’s chest, humming softly as he wraps his arms around his lover and lifts him up, pulling him into his lap. Childe finally turns his head, able to see Zhongli’s warm smile, and he returns it as Zhongli pulls the rope tight across Childe’s chest, rendering his arms immobile as he watches Zhongli tie an intricate harness over his torso. 

Childe’s mind, his battle sense, his Abyss-given training all clamor for Childe to struggle, to try to pull the rope lose, to escape, but his instincts only relax as he feels how tight the bonds are, tension leaching from his whole body the more knots get tied. Zhongli’s nimble fingers brush his skin teasingly as he fastens each knot, and Childe melts into him more each time, letting out a low whine when Zhongli finally gives his already-hard nipples attention with only the lightest of touches. 

“Want more, hm?” Zhongli asks, and Childe nods desperately. 

“Please, touch me,” he begs, and Zhongli barks out a laugh.

“I have been touching you, love,” he says in a condescending tone, and Childe whines again.

“Not enough…”

“You’re not satisfied with what I’ve been giving you? Well, then…” Zhongli reaches for Childe’s nipples, his nails scraping against them—no, those are too long to be his normal nails, those are claws—

Childe shrieks as Zhongli pinches his nipples roughly, the sharp pain making his back arch, desperate to get away, but his reaction only pulls the ropes tighter, making his entire upper body burn faintly. He looks back to Zhongli, a betrayed look on his face, but Zhongli only clicks his tongue, rolling his eyes.

“Don’t look at me like that, love. In fact…” Zhongli threads the rope between Childe’s neck and his collar before attaching it to the harness, yanking it tight and forcing Childe’s head forward. “There. But really, don’t go complaining about that unless you can get ahold of yourself. I know how you really feel.” His hand darts down to pinch Childe’s thigh, and Childe whines as he looks down to see his already furiously hard dick leaking precum. “My pretty little painslut, hm?”

Childe tries to nod, but he can’t, and so he just lets out another whine instead, hanging his head in admission. 

“Hm. That’s what I thought.” Childe’s more prepared for it this time, but he still lets out a yelp when Zhongli pinches his nipples again, although it’s short-lived, seeing as Zhongli then shoves Childe back down onto the mattress, muffling any noise he makes. Childe can hardly do anything but await what Zhongli has planned for him now as he folds Childe’s legs up, wrapping rope all the way down them and preventing him from kicking out. He’s well and truly at Zhongli’s mercy, and the only hint he gets that he’ll soon get a reprieve for his throbbing cock is when Zhongli’s hands pull away, and the faint sound of fabric rustling reaches his ears. 

Despite his predicament, Childe can’t help but smile, all too excited by what’s to come. Zhongli fucks him like no other, filling him perfectly and always hitting his sweet spots just right, and—

Another sound reaches Childe’s ears as the bed shifts, a faint clatter that’s accompanied by a sickening feeling, a warmth in his chest fading, one that makes his blood run cold. He’s trapped, rendered immobile without his Vision, not powerful enough to escape—

Zhongli must sense that something’s wrong, because the next thing Childe knows, he’s lying on his back, looking up at Zhongli’s concerned expression. “Is everything alright, Childe?” he asks, his voice heartbreakingly gentle as he cups Childe’s cheek tenderly.

Childe gasps for air, his shoulders heaving. “I—I need—my Vision, please—”  

Zhongli’s eyes widen, and he scrambles off the bed, rifling through the pile of clothes fallen to the floor until he finds what he’s looking for, then climbs back up next to Childe and presses his Vision into his hands, Zhongli’s own hands holding Childe’s shoulders. 

Childe clutches his Vision tightly, his breaths evening out as he feels the familiar warmth return to his chest. He’s not in the Abyss, he’s here in Zhongli’s arms and Zhongli’s ropes and Zhongli’s collar and that can only mean that he’s safe.

“Do you want me to untie you?” Zhongli asks quietly.

“No, I…I’m okay.” He gives Zhongli an admittedly weak smile, but it’s genuine all the same. “Thank you.”

Zhongli nods. “Of course, love. You’re sure…you want to keep going?”

Childe tries to nod, then flushes as he remembers he still can’t, the ropes across his back pulling tighter at the motion. “Please,” he all but whines. “Want you in me…”

Zhongli’s pupils dilate, and he inhales sharply before grabbing Childe’s hips, flipping him back over onto his stomach with seemingly no effort at all. The nonchalant show of strength has him growing harder by the second, and Childe squirms in his restraints, trying to get some friction against the bed, but to little effect. The only thing his effort earns him is a sharp smack to his ass, and Childe moans at the contact, his hips bucking up.

Zhongli chuckles softly. “Patience, baby. You want me to fuck you first, don’t you?”

Childe whines, but he doesn’t deny it, keeping still until Zhongli presses his first oil-slicked finger into Childe’s hole, beginning to spread him thoroughly, and Childe moans, his breath hitching at the intrusion pushing deeper inside him. 

“Look at you, opening up so well…You really were made for me, weren’t you?”

Childe gasps as Zhongli curls his finger, the feeling so intense that he hardly notices the second finger that Zhongli pushes into him until he spreads them apart, scissoring his fingers within Childe and drawing out a desperate moan. He doesn’t want to wait for a third finger, he wants Zhongli inside him now.

“Please,” he whines, gasping at every twitch of Zhongli’s fingers, but Zhongli only laughs. 

“Soon, baby. Here.” His other hand reaches up to Childe’s mouth, shoving his fingers inside for Childe to suck on, which he does eagerly, letting Zhongli fuck his mouth with just his fingers until they’re dripping wet with slick spit when Zhongli finally pulls them out, and he does the same with the now three fingers in Childe’s ass. 

Childe feels Zhongli’s dick finally line up against his entrance, and at the same time, Zhongli’s fingers wrap themselves around Childe’s cock, stroking him far too gently as he pushes himself into Childe, stretching him with the most heavenly burn and eliciting a loud moan that spills from Childe’s lips.

“Ah, Zhongli—”

Zhongli leans forward as he bottoms out, curling his fingers in Childe’s hair and kissing down the exposed skin of his neck, a feeble distraction when he begins to thrust into him, building up speed to the exact pace that makes Childe absolutely melt.

“Shh, love. I’ll make you feel good.”

Childe sometimes wishes Zhongli didn’t know him as well as he does, because the way he slams into Childe’s prostate has no right to feel as excruciatingly good as it does, the building wave of pleasure so overwhelming that his grip loosens and his Vision falls out of his hand to the mattress beneath him. Childe can’t bring himself to care, though, not when Zhongli’s presence is everywhere, holding him, filling him, touching him, building up within him until he’s about to burst—

“Zhongli, please, I—I’m going to—”

Childe can practically hear Zhongli’s smirk as he replies, thumbing over Childe’s dick with a far-from-innocent stroke. “Come for me, love,” he purrs, and Childe sees white, convulsing as he comes with a strangled cry, clenching around Zhongli’s cock and teasing out his own orgasm, perfectly filling Childe with his warmth. 

They stay like that for a moment, the only sounds filling the room being those of their heavy breathing and the faint pulse of their heartbeats, and Childe smiles to himself. Yes. This is what he came to Liyue for.

Although Childe is utterly boneless, evidently, Zhongli’s strength never goes away, because practically as soon as he pulls out of Childe, Zhongli lifts him up with a single hand, turning him over so he can observe Childe’s blissfully fucked-out face with an almost sickeningly sappy smile.

“Was that alright, love?” he murmurs softly, and Childe can’t help but return his smile, although it’s probably not quite as beautiful a sight.

“Perfect.”

“I’m so glad. Can I give you anything else?”

Childe thinks for a moment, and his smile shifts into something closer to a smirk. “Hmm…more?” Childe asks, looking up at Zhongli through half-lidded eyes. His lover grins, leaning down to kiss Childe with a hunger in his eyes.

“For you, my love?” Zhongli murmurs against his lips. “Anything.”