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After living for millennia surrounded by wealth, treachery and companionship alike, it made him long for anonymity.
That was how Zhongli came to be.
Most of his closest kins accepted his decision and struggled not to openly recognize him while he walked around Liyue in his human disguise — and to tell the truth, seeing them attempting not to be overly reverent towards a “normal human” was quite amusing.
He enjoyed his new life and strived to protect it, while also securing Liyue’s wellbeing. It was the search for this balance that led him to strike a deal with the Tsaritsa.
She was an Archon like him — one of the Seven Progenitors. Contrary to him, she ruled her kin and nation closely. However, despite their differences, they managed to strike a deal, and a contract was forged.
Now Zhongli was waiting, taking note of any foreigner arriving on Liyue's shores, in his search for the Tsaritsa’s envoy.
She promised him a soldier to sow chaos and destruction so that Liyue could prove to be able to defend itself without him, and she had chosen her Vanguard to do so. Zhongli would be lying if he said he wasn’t worried. The tales of the rabid Vampire and of the rain of blood that followed after he slew Her enemies reached even Liyue’s warm shores. It was true that Zhongli wanted to test his people — humans and Vampires alike — but not to the point of letting a dangerous individual freely roam his land. For this reason, he decided to present himself as a guide for this Vanguard, therefore making it easier to keep a watchful eye on this rabid Vampire.
For all the gossip that followed the Vanguard, Zhongli wasn’t prepared to meet a boyish young man, charming and — surprisingly — polite, even if he flaunted his status as a Vampire without worry, not hiding his fangs, nor his affiliation to the Tsaritsa with her Mark of Possession proudly shown on his right forearm.
“Mr. Zhongli, it’s a pleasure to meet you,” he said, bowing as customary for a first meeting. “I’m the Tsaritsa’s chosen diplomat. You can call me Childe.”
Childe, what a curious man.
“The pleasure is all mine,” he said, guiding Childe with a hand to sit down. “I hope your travel went well.”
The bright smile he offered Zhongli was surprisingly innocent for how much it showed his sharp fangs. It made him wonder how often this fearsome Vanguard was tasked to don the cover of a diplomat.
“It went smoothly, as I hope will go the rest of my journey here,” he said, before tilting his head and cheekily adding: “though, I wouldn’t mind exploring some old ruin. I heard Liyue has many adventurous locations in which you can find a good fight. However, that will have to wait after I take care of my official duties.”
“You seek an adventure.”
“I take my job very seriously, but if I’ve free time, I’d like to spend it visiting new, exciting places,” Childe explained, sounding surprisingly sincere, “and if they offer me a challenge, well, all the better.”
What a curious man to fall in his hands.
“In that case, I’ll remember that.”
“Oh, don’t worry. I wouldn’t want to impose my presence on you even for my free time,” he added, suddenly bashful. “You’re human, I wouldn’t want to risk getting you hurt.”
That was oddly thoughtful, in case he was honest and not simply trying to get Zhongli off his radar.
“You don’t have to worry. I’m very familiar with this land,” he said, smiling proudly at the thought, even if Childe appeared clueless of just how true that statement was. “For now, though, let’s focus on your duties.”
“Great. I really need an expert to help me navigate Liyue’s traditions and help me recognize social cues so that I don’t mess up!”
Zhongli smiled politely. If Childe turned out to be genuine in his interest, it’d greatly surprise him. “Don’t worry, most Liyue people are very patient with foreigners, but I appreciate your attempts at learning.”
“Isn’t it obvious? I’m going to be stationed here for months. It’s only natural to want to learn more of the land I’ll sojourn in.”
“You’ll be surprised by how many don’t have your same attitude,” he said, inadvertently praising Childe more. “Anyway, what do you think of lunch to start our lessons?”
Childe didn’t stop surprising him. If anything, it seemed he made a point to always subvert Zhongli’s expectations.
For example, when he inquired about Childe’s diet Zhongli hadn’t initially believed him.
“Oh, don’t worry, xiansheng,” he said, tilting his voice as he was still learning to fully master the language. “I don’t drink human blood.”
Zhongli really didn’t believe him. However, for all his prodding and observations, Childe seemed to truly prefer Vampire blood, which he took from the reserves of Northland Bank.
It made something stir inside him — something he didn’t want nor was he able to name, yet.
“Your loyalty to the Tsaritsa is commendable,” Zhongli said, one night, after they were returning home from a night at the opera.
Childe had been enamored with the heroic tales of the Yakshas. Zhongli didn’t want to squash his giddiness with a comment over how rose-tinted the performed tale was compared to reality, so he decided to engage with Childe’s conversation.
What he said puzzled Childe, who tilted his head to smile at him broadly yet with confusion clear in his dull blue eyes. “What do you mean? I’m her soldier, her… kin. I’m obviously devoted to her.”
“I know, but even if customs are different between Snezhnaya and Liyue, I find it very… interesting how proudly you flaunt your Sire’s Mark.”
He must have said something wrong. Zhongli noticed immediately how Childe’s expression tightened, as if the reminder pained him.
The cheery laugh Childe offered him was so fake, Zhongli doubted he needed his supernatural senses to recognize it. “Ah, xiansheng. I… I didn’t really. I’m sorry if I breached some social taboo. Should I cover—”
“No!” Zhongli said, hurriedly. He didn’t really care to see the Tsaritsa’s pale snowflake branding Childe as hers. However, it obviously meant a lot to him, and Zhongli — he realized belatedly — found himself caring. “I was just curious. Please don’t take offense.”
“I didn’t! It’s just…” Childe coughed, hiding his mouth and lowering his gaze, suddenly interested in the pebble under his shoe. “The Tsaritsa isn’t my Sire…” he mumbled, then bit his lips, as if he realized he said too much.
Not my Sire…
It made no sense. Only a Progenitor recognized by Celestia could transform a human into a Vampire.
He wanted to ask more, digging for more information, but he could see how tense Childe was, closed in himself, ready to bolt at the first sign of aggression — and in that moment, any further inquiry would be considered as such.
Zhongli shouldn’t let this information slide — should contact the Tsaritsa and ask for clarifications on what she meant by sending “one of her kin”.
In the end, he filed the information in a mental box labelled “Childe” and then put it at the back of his mind. Now facing his new friend — because that was what they were, now, friends — he apologized for his insensitive comment.
“Excuse my impertinence. I overstepped,” he said, hoping to convey how apologetic he was. “If you still feel like it, I’d like to offer you some tea and honey cakes Granny Ruoxin gifted me last time I visited Qingce Village. However, I understand if you want some privacy. Will you still let me accompany you to your apartment?”
“I’m a big strong Vampire,” Childe said, his voice rough with self-deprecation. “No need to worry for me.”
“You’re my guest and my friend,” Zhongli said, stressing the word friend. “I’m going to care for your wellbeing, regardless of your status.”
Childe looked up at him, brusquely. His dark dull blue eyes focused solely on Zhongli, as if Childe was worried he might disappear if he were to blink. It was endearing and a little saddening — he had never looked this young before.
“You mean that… we’re… friends?” he asked, defensively, as if waiting for such a title to be taken away the moment he voiced it.
“Yes, Childe,” Zhongli said, gulping down the knot in his throat. “Friends.”
The next day, they were exploring the marketplace. Technically, it was to help Childe pick some gifts for his younger siblings. However, it quickly ended up with him paying for every trinket Zhongli found fascinating.
If he were to think too deeply about it, he’d probably be embarrassed about having a young foreign Vampire spend a fortune on the Sire of this land. Luckily, Zhongli was too old for shame.
“Liyue is so peaceful, it’s impressive,” Childe said, suddenly.
Zhongli laughed, finding his observations refreshing. “A city developed through commerce needs to be hospitable.”
“Yeah, I get it, but it’s more like… I don’t know, humans and Vampires coexist with little to no struggle,” he said, taking in how everyone seemed relaxed, even in a chaotic place like this market. “The Qixing is mostly composed of humans, and I heard Morax and his kin are very respected!”
“Isn’t it normal?” Zhongli asked, unsure of what Childe wanted to know.
“Well, yes, but it’s not based on fear,” he said, lowering his voice. “From all the tales of Morax’s past, I expected most of the locals to be scared of him. The Yuheng even openly criticizes him!”
Zhongli couldn’t help it and laughed good-naturedly. ”Lady Keqing has only Liyue's best interests in mind and is very fair in her judgement,” he explained, following Childe’s solemn gaze to a group of children — some humans, some Vampires — playing together. “The people are reverent, but aren’t scared of their Archon, since they know him as a protector. Also, when in public, you should refrain from calling him so familiarly. Locals use his title, Rex Lapis.”
“Oh, gotcha!” Childe said, cheerful again. “Are his bloody and more violent tales not popular?”
“Hm. Interesting question,” he said, pondering his answer. “From what I observed, his actions are usually framed as necessary, at least here in Liyue.”
“Oh? And to you?” Childe asked, now focusing all his attention on him.
“Me?”
“Yes. What do you think of Rex Lapis?”
He paused, enchanted by Childe’s dull blue eyes.
What does he think of himself?
“I think that after so many millennia dedicated to take care of Liyue, his presence isn’t as needed anymore.”
Childe gasped, his eyes opening fully. “You might be human, but isn’t that blasphemous?”
Zhongli couldn’t help the chuckle that escaped from his lips at how scandalized his new friend was.
After Childe manifested his interest in Rex Lapis, Zhongli decided to take him outside the harbor, traveling around Liyue’s countryside and visiting historical sites together.
Today’s destination was the Guili Plains, the old heart of Rex Lapis’ kin, now abandoned.
Visiting the place usually brought a sense of melancholy in Zhongli, which was the reason why he reserved this place as the last part of their tour. However, while longing still haunted him today, Childe’s company felt like a balm. It made him feel warm and fuzzy, seeing him smile and chat happily as he skipped over Rex Lapis’ land, unaware of whose company he was indulging in.
This feeling — no, Childe — was truly fascinating.
“I’m surprised everyone can just walk in, honestly.”
“It’s been abandoned for millennia,” Zhongli explained. “As long as one is respectful, Rex Lapis and his kin have never prohibited passage here.”
“But they did in Jueyun Karst?”
“It is different,” he said, imagining how offended Cloud Retainer would be at the idea. “Jueyun Karst is a secluded space reserved only for Rex Lapis’ kin, and his most ancient companions still live there. It would be foolish to invoke their ire for such a trivial matter.”
“You make me so curious, but I get it,” Childe admitted. “Many are the places in Snezhnaya that are prohibited to all but those that carry Her Majesty’s favor.”
Their conversation lulled to a stop as they reached the main ruins of the Guili Plains, but not to admire them.
The thick tang of blood filled the air. Human senses might not be able to pick it, but a Vampire would be compelled to as Zhongli could practically taste it — blood mixed with fear and desperation.
Someone must have recently killed humans here.
Rage filled his core. Hard as it was, however, Zhongli had to keep his human persona, who was now naively looking over at Childe, pretending to be clueless over his sudden pause.
“Something the matter?” he asked, even as he wanted to do nothing more than to find whoever tainted the Guili Plains.
His voice shook Childe out of his daze.
So he isn’t wholly unaffected by human’s blood…
“You have to go back, xiansheng. Please, hide.”
He was touched by how protective Childe grew of him. It made him feel slightly bad for lying to him about his status and identity, even if it was necessary.
However, before he could come up with a convincing excuse, a group of feral Vampires attacked them. They were rowdy and uncoordinated — not a serious threat.
Childe took care of them so quickly, Zhongli was genuinely impressed, and if not for the gravity of the situation, he’d have praised him.
Leaving Childe to inspect the surrounding area, Zhongli inspected the scene. It was then that he heard a low and pained grumble coming from behind what he realized was a hidden rock passage. Zhongli hurried, running as humanly fast as possible. Luckily, Childe was immediately by his side to dispose of the boulder.
The putrid smell of dead bodies invaded his senses. He steeled himself not to react, concentrating his efforts into finding whoever was still alive.
Hidden among dead bodies, the frail figure of a malnourished teen human covered in ghastly Marks was hiccuping, trying and failing to keep quiet, scared by their sudden appearance.
“No… please, no. No more…” the teen begged with a feeble voice, breaking Zhongli’s heart.
“It’s better if you take care of this,” Childe said, his voice suddenly devoid of any emotion. “I’ll check the area and make sure none of those parasites are still around.”
Zhongli expected Childe — a young Vampire even by human standards — to be tempted by the blood in front of him. Instead, Childe’s eyes were already back to their dull blue, and his fangs were hidden away. However, while his voice was blank, pain and something much deeper and darker were clearly painted all over his face — at least to Zhongli.
Childe didn’t wait for his reply and simply walked away. Zhongli didn’t see him until he returned to his apartment, after he left the kid in the Millelith’s care and called Ganyu to make sure this mess would be taken care of.
It was late at night when Zhongli returned to the apartment he used as a human, and it was there that he saw Childe, sheepishly waiting for him, sitting at his door.
He didn’t try to hide his presence and made his footsteps clearly vibrate to alert Childe of his arrival.
He immediately jumped up, eyes wild and worried. “How’s the kid?”
“In better hands,” Zhongli said, opening the door and letting Childe in. Now, who he was worried for was someone else. “What troubles you?”
“I… nothing really, I just wanted to make sure,” Childe said, unconvincingly. “I should get going now—”
“Please, rest,” he hastened to say, stopping Childe from running away. “We’re friends, aren’t we? Tell me what’s wrong.”
“Xiansheng…”
“Sit here,” he said, clearing up the couch for him. “I’ll brew some tea to relax your nerves.”
Childe chuckled, not convinced, but did as Zhongli hoped. “You’re always so nice to me. I don’t deserve it.”
“Nonsense.”
Silence fell between them. For the first time in millennia, Zhongli wasn't focused on preparing the tea, but on finding words of comfort to help Childe.
“You told me you were surprised by how proudly I flaunted Her Majesty’s Mark of Possession.” Childe’s voice surprised him, his words even more so.
“That is true, but it’s nothing to be ashamed of,” Zhongli said, leaving the tea to brew and focusing back solely on Childe.
“I know but seeing that kid…” he paused, looking erratically around the small living room. Zhongli didn’t hasten him. He sat down next to him, waiting patiently for Childe to continue. “Honestly… it’ll be better if I just show you…”
Childe’s deft fingers soon began to tremble as he slipped off his jacket and unbuttoned his shirt. As he showed more of his marred skin, it finally dawned on Zhongli.
Gently, he took Childe’s hands in his, steading them as he helped him out of his harness and shirt.
Who did this to you? he wanted to ask, dark and possessive in a way he didn’t expect to feel, after swearing he sought nothing but a peaceful living as a human.
He’d been jealous of the Tsaritsa for her innocent Mark, but this was a different matter. Childe’s bare body was covered in Marks — old crude things — and he was doing his best not to shy away from Zhongli.
“They’re an eyesore,” Childe said, chuckling. “I—they were so many, but only these are left, now. I’ve no idea if the Vampires who did this are even alive or not…”
“Whoever did this to you—” Zhongli choked on his emotions, realizing as he voiced his thoughts just how angry he was.
Childe shook his head, helplessly, before jumping into his arms, hugging him close with all the strength of a young Vampire.
“I told you Her Majesty isn’t my Sire,” he said, hiding his face into the crook of Zhongli’s neck.
He did, and it made no sense.
“Was it one of those…”
Childe nodded, his lips shaping a forbidden word Zhongli thought no Vampire would have ever dared to pronounce.
The Abyss.
Celestia’s opposite force, yet it offered exactly the same treacherous gifts.
It should have been impossible. The Abyss was sealed off from Teyvat, unless there was an open boarder in Snezhnaya.
Zhongli needed to know more and write to the Tsaritsa. However, as Childe curled up in his arms, tightening his hold on him to the point no human would have been able to withstand his hug, Zhongli pushed the Abyss far away from them and focused his attention solely on whatever Childe wanted to share with him.
“I don’t remember who it was. When I was fourteen, I got lost in the forest near my home. I heard someone shouting in pain, I wanted to help…” he laughed, his voice rough and cruel, “I didn’t expect it to be a trap.”
“You were a child,” Zhongli murmured, kissing his temple.
Childe bit his lips as a hiccup escaped from his lips. “They kept me for months… as a snack, as a toy. One day, one of them got a little too rough with me and accidentally transformed me,” his voice broke, but Zhongli waited patiently for him to continue, caressing his back and brushing his lips against his now damp cheek. “After that, the few reservations they had to keep me alive disappeared. Apparently, Vampires can withstand much, much more pain and torture… I just wanted everything to end and to return home.”
“You managed to,” Zhongli said, hugging him close. “You did it.”
Childe nodded, curling more over himself. “Another Vampire from their den returned. She’d been away for a long time. She was horrified with what they did to me and helped me escape. I haven’t seen her since, but I—I’m so grateful, I was able to see my family again, even if…”
Childe never finished his tale, but Zhongli could piece it back together. He’d heard tales of the Vanguard, of how at fourteen, mad with rage and bloodlust, he’d sought out the Tsaritsa for a place in her army. After hearing Childe’s story, he guessed it wasn’t really a matter of choice — or at least not Childe’s.
Everything ought to change after that night, but didn’t.
Childe had let himself be seen and kissed, however, come morning, a polite distance was already built between them. Zhongli wanted to pull him close once more, but resisted his instincts — it’d be unfair of him to ask so much of Childe, when Zhongli was still hiding many secrets.
When the time finally came, Morax was prepared, Zhongli was not.
Childe followed the trails he left behind to seek Rex Lapis, but found both the adepti and the Qixing ready to stop him and his Fatui.
Beaten up and delirious, Childe had still tried to complete his mission to find Rex Lapis. When Zhongli found him, following a streak of blood that worried him, Childe was roaming around the destroyed Golden House.
“Childe.”
Their secrets were null, now that they were facing each other — red on red.
“You!” Childe hissed, voice twisted in a snarl as he attempted to attack him. However, he was too hurt and stumbled, falling to his knees in a pool of his own blood.
“Childe, please, stop,” he begged, trying to coax Childe to let him see his injury. “Let me help.”
“Get away from me, Morax!” he screamed, futilely attempting to push Zhongli away. “Such a twisted joke. Did you have fun?”
“My intention was never to humiliate you. I can explain what I can of my plan, after I take care of you.”
Childe laughed bitterly, losing the strength to push him away. “And what do you have in mind? No physician will want to help me… I can feel—”
“Don’t,” Zhongli refused to let him go, pulling Childe delicately in his arms to inspect his injuries. They were much worse than he feared.
“Didn’t know you were a doctor.”
“In six millennia you learn many skills,” Zhongli said, ignoring Childe’s attempt at angering him. “I… here, drink,” he offered, baring his neck.
Instantly, Childe recoiled from him, trying to push weakly at Zhongli. “Don’t make fun of me.”
“I’m no human, I can take it. You’ve nothing to worry about.”
“You’re an Archon, I can’t!” Childe rebuked, though Zhongli could see his resistance weakening. “You… I’ll hurt you…”
“I’m sorry,” Zhongli said, brushing his lips over Childe’s bloodied forehead — his blood was delicious, and he had to repeat to himself that it was something he couldn't enjoy at the moment. Then he scratched his neck with a pointed claw, letting his golden blood seep through.
Childe managed to resist for all of five seconds, tears spilling from his eyes, before he sank his fangs into Zhongli’s throat.
Childe had been so desperate for blood that Zhongli had to grab his nape to steady him and make sure he didn’t rip his throat at the first bite. Then the natural aphrodisiac of a Vampire bite set in, and Zhongli had to control his own hunger for entirely different reasons.
Surprisingly, Childe stopped drinking by himself, leaving a tingling sensation over Zhongli’s neck as his fangs slipped out of the bite.
He realized what happened when he met Childe’s horrified eyes.
“Chil—“
“No, no, no, no. I’m—I fucked up, I—“
“Childe.”
“I Marked you.”
“I don’t mind,” he said, meaning it.
Childe just seemed more angered at his dismissal. “You should!”
“I don’t mind bearing your Mark at all.”
“That’s not…" he mumbled, his breath heavy and his eyes haunted, alternating between red and blue, taking in a violet hue, "you should do the same to me. Mark me, Zhongli.”
Oh, how he longed to hear those words, to have Childe plead for his Mark. Unfortunately, Zhongli could tell that for Childe being Marked now would be nothing but a punishment.
One day, he hoped to be given the same offer, but not now — not with Childe’s obligations to the Tsaritsa and how traumatized he still was from what the Abyss did to him.
“You lost to much blood,” he said, gently, but with a firm refusal. “When you’re feeling better, if you still want my Mark, then it’ll be a pleasure to claim you.”
“That’s not true,” Childe hissed, delirious. “Why don’t you want me? I can be of help. Her Majesty… she wouldn’t be upset with you.”
Zhongli very much disagreed with the assessment, aware of how possessive an Archon was of their chosen ones.
“It’s not the point. To me, bearing your Mark is a sign I was able to rescue you, that you’re alive and well, but to you, a Mark is nothing but a punishment, and I’ll never inflict that upon you. You’re also in no condition to be fed upon.”
“How can you say that it’s not a punishment?” Childe cried out, punching and pushing Zhongli away. “How is it not shameful?”
“Do you view your Tsaritsa’s Mark as a taint?” he asked, feeling terrible for the hurt he knew it’d bring Childe.
Childe visibly flinched away at Zhongli’s question, shame coloring his cheeks. “I… no,” his voice was thick with emotions, and Zhongli felt remorse and shame clawing at him, “but I—I can’t help this, this.”
“I knew it was a possibility when I offered you to feed on me,” Zhongli said, trying to reassure him. “Technically, it could fade away, or it couldn’t. Marks follow no logic, but I don't mind bearing your Mark for all eternity.”
His confession stunned Childe. Like this, Zhongli could admire him freely, see how a healthy color was gradually returning to his skin and his eyes were turning blue again.
“But you won’t Mark me?” he asked, his voice feeble and broken.
“Oh, baobei, I want to—I fear my eagerness may scare you away,” he said, raising Childe’s bloody hands to kiss them reverentially, “but I swear I won’t do anything until you’re able to see these Markings as a symbol of trust and care, and not a brand of punishment.”
“How can I believe you?” Childe shook his head, fear clinging to him.
“I don’t know if words can be enough,” Zhongli admitted, brushing a finger over his new Mark — he was very curious about its shape, “but I promise you I’ll cherish our bond from now on, showing you how being Marked isn’t necessary cruel. If one day you’ll wish for me to bestow a Mark upon you, too, I’ll be all too pleased to oblige.”