Chapter Text
Childe wasn’t leaving for Snezhnaya for another month. Zhongli knew this day would come eventually, but with a mere month left, it felt like Childe was about to disappear from his life. A month was nothing to Zhongli’s six thousand years of existence. It wasn’t as if the boat to take Childe away was coming by the next morning, but Childe would speak of the preparations to leave during their lunches and dinners sometimes. Increasingly so, as of late. He would speak of loose ends he needed to tie up. Various things he needed to organize, things that needed a Harbinger’s direct approval. Things to make sure Northland Bank could go back to managing itself without a Harbinger, like they had before Childe had arrived in Liyue to steal Zhongli’s gnosis.
At first, Zhongli had merely grown comfortable. It took only a spar to mollify Childe and to resume their companionship after Childe grew upset at the revelation of his true identity. He was glad that it hadn’t been too serious and Childe was easy to soothe. Of course, true comfort with Zhongli had still taken time after the spar, but it had been more or less smooth progress. It had been less than a blink for Zhongli. Barely worthy of note.
But now, he would lose Childe to Snezhnaya and the Tsaritsa. It felt as if some space inside his chest, where his gnosis used to sit, squeezed uncomfortably at the thought. He hadn’t spared the thoughts to think about how Childe wouldn’t stay in Liyue forever. Not when he was such a valuable warrior to the Tsaritsa, and how her war on Celestia was still only ramping up. Her quest to collect the gnoses of her fellow archons only a set-up phase. But it was a rather dangerous one, there was no guarantee all eleven of the Cryo Archon’s Harbingers would survive her mission. They could die on the wrong end of a weapon from either an Archon or their followers. Just because they had stolen Barbatos’ gnosis and earned Zhongli’s lawfully did not mean the rest would come as easily. He could not imagine that the Raiden Shogun would be kind to a Harbinger that attempted to steal her gnosis, nor would she willingly give it up to a foreign power such as the Fatui.
He thought of it. Childe dying in some faraway land. In the city, his corpse rotting in some alley. Some wasteland far from him. Somewhere hot. Somewhere cold. Somewhere where Zhongli couldn’t wrap his jade shield around him, making certain no harm would befall him. It unsettled him. Childe’s endless lust for battle would surely take him into the thick of danger. Perhaps he would die in Snezhnaya. Close to home, trying to win glory for the Tsaritsa for some dangerous mission. Childe, dying in the icy snows that would bury his body. Instead of being warm and safe in Liyue, being held gently by Zhongli.
Thousands of years ago, Guizhong, his first friend, had told him of how careless he had been with humans. Thinking nothing of slaughtering them or frightening them horribly. Treating them arrogantly, and she had chastised him. She told him of how precious and fragile humans were. That they too could be things to be treasured, and how they must be treated gently. Like the thinnest glass thread that could snap if touched too roughly.
Many of his fellow Archons seemed to have lacked someone to teach them this important lesson. Particularly the Archon of Cryo, who picked up not only bright souls from her own nation, but pilfered from others as well. Yet, she reduced them to weapons of war. Admittedly, Zhongli cared little for most of them. La Signora, the Eighth Harbinger did not impress him very much. Haughty and cold, she had an undeserved arrogant air about her. No danger to him, despite how he imagined she believed otherwise, but she could have done terrible things to his people. Had it not been for their contract, Zhongli would not have tolerated her presence on his lands for long.
As for the one the Tsaritsa called Tartaglia, he was the one Zhongli was fond of.
“You look deep in thought, Xiansheng.” Childe remarked, his voice bringing Zhongli out of his musings.
That’s right. They were sitting at Wanmin Restaurant together over a warm meal.
“.... You are leaving soon.” Zhongli said quietly.
“Not too soon, but yes.” Childe replied. “Why, do you miss me already?” He said cheekily.
“I don’t wish to miss you. Must you go?” Zhongli felt he had to ask.
“I’m flattered you enjoy my company so much! But her Majesty calls, and I must answer. But I could come back to visit, surely. Perhaps for that Moonchase Festival you spoke of? That sounds nice. I think it’s not impossible I could return just long enough to attend with you.” Childe said with a smile.
But Zhongli didn’t want to have to wait for Childe to return. He could suffer delays, or his goddess could refuse to allow him to return.
“I understand.” He didn’t, but he didn’t want to alarm Childe with his souring mood.
Zhongli had to do something. He didn’t know what exactly. He led Childe on a tangent, speaking instead of the history of the Moonchase Festival and background of the features of the festival he mentioned beforehand. As soon as the meal was done and paid for, they went their separate ways. Both of them went back to work.
But as Zhongli sat at his desk in the funeral parlor, he thought of it. It was so simple. He could just… Keep Childe here. Of course, it would take time to make the proper arrangements. He had been trying to acclimate to mortal life, but if he wanted to make this all go perfectly, he would require more mora than his paycheck could provide. Even though his gnosis was gone, the reality was that mora was much more innate to him that most assumed.
It would be of little concern to simply mint mora to fund this project of his. It would have to be of the utmost secrecy. He would hate to bother the adepti and Liyue Qixing, and he certainly did not want to be discovered by the Tsaritsa or her other Harbingers. Even though he was certain that within Liyue’s borders they would be safe.
First step was to gather some of the proper materials. It was simply easier to collect them himself. So, he informed Hu Tao that he would be taking some time off. He had accumulated vacation time from her, having up to this point not taken a single day off. She didn’t think anything strange of it, and easily granted it to him.
He used the time to collect the rare and specific materials needed in order for him to prepare a new domain. He planned to tuck it underneath Mount Tianheng. Easy access to Liyue Harbor, but the only one who would know of it was him, so only he would be able to enter and exit freely. That, and whoever he chose to bring in or out. For now, all he planned to do was bring Childe inside. The other adepti could theoretically enter, but they wouldn’t know of it or think to search for him here. He made sure it was very discreet. This was for the best.
After that, he needed to procure the furnishings to make it comfortable for a human. It took time to arrange all of it, Zhongli was worried he wouldn’t finish on time, but fortunately with still a week to spare before Childe left Liyue forever, he managed to finish. He wasn’t entirely sure Childe would like it, but he could make suggestions and requests for edits or additions when he moved in. As soon as it was ready, Zhongli saw no reason to delay.
He entered Childe’s apartment in the middle of the night, to ensure no interruptions and to guarantee Childe would be where Zhongli thought he would be. He gently picked Childe up in a bridal carry and immediately teleported to the domain. He carried Childe through the rooms he had constructed and into the large bedroom. He did make two bedrooms. As the sudden change in environment and routine may require an adjustment period, and Zhongli attempting to advance too quickly may distress him too much. So, he made the decision to make a bedroom for himself instead, and when Childe was more comfortable, they could sleep in the same bed together.
…. Perhaps Zhongli should make his courting attempts more obvious? He had attempted to make his interest in Childe known, but it was clear to Childe that none of it had actually been received properly. So, he should take things slow. One step at a time. As he tucked Childe into bed, he breathed a sigh of relief.
Childe was finally safe.