Chapter Text
As Zhongli takes his shoes off at the doorstep, Childe waves over to him.
“Tonia doesn’t believe you exist. Talk about rude.” Childe pouts.
“Why?”
“She says you’re too perfect.”
Zhongli laughs.
“No, I’m serious! She’s even suggesting introducing me to bachelors and bachelorettes when I come back!”
“Ah, is this your way of asking for an open relationship, Childe?”
Childe’s face scrunches and Zhongli nearly feels bad for making the joke. He silently hands the bag filled with dinner to him.
“Xiangling asked why I’ve been buying lunch for you.”
“Oh yeah?” Childe asks as he unpacks the boxes of food and places them on the dining table. Childe ensures any dishes containing seafood are on his side of the table and that the dishes they’re sharing are in the middle. “What did you say?”
“I revealed we were dating. She could not accept it.”
“After what I did, who would?” Childe says. “Wow, smells as good as always.”
“She believed you were threatening me, Childe.”
At that, Childe laughs.
“Wow, she didn’t believe you that bad, huh?”
Zhongli sighs.
“I informed you in case you receive another influx of Millelith reports and Qixing complaints.”
“Hah, thanks for the warning. I’ve enough paperwork to do after the Osial debacle.”
After Zhongli hangs his clothes in the bathroom and changes into a dry pair of home clothes, he gathers his utensils and sets them on the dining table. He also pours two cups of his favourite wine. Zhongli does not miss how Childe gazes at him with heat in his eyes. He is aware how fond Childe is to see him in pyjamas and specifically chose to wear this today.
“What’s the occasion, Zhongli?” Childe’s left leg rhythmically thumps on the floor out of excitement.
“Today is our anniversary. I would like to celebrate it by recreating our first meeting – when we ate at Wanmin Restaurant.”
“Back when I couldn’t use chopsticks well?”
Zhongli smiles.
“Yes, back when you had the audacity to ask for fork and spoon.”
“Back when you gifted me an expensive set of chopsticks with a phoenix and dragon patterns for practice?”
Zhongli blushes. Traditionally, such a pattern bore connotations of close ties – be it friendship, business relations or romantic – but it had been an impulsive purchase at the time. He still remembers their conversation: Childe respectfully probing Liyue’s history, with more focus on Rex Lapis, while listening intently to every tangent Zhongli unintentionally went on.
As they first met for work purposes, they mostly spoke of Liyue’s rich culture but Childe’s curiosity and ability to empathise with historical figures – rare even amongst his people – increased Zhongli’s respect for him. As a show of appreciation for Childe’s earnestness, Zhongli bought the culturally significant pair of chopsticks, hoping that regardless what happened afterwards, they would remain close. It was extremely impulsive to do so on the first meeting but Childe’s levity had won him over.
“Yes, back when you paid for your own gift because you felt honoured.”
“I couldn’t even use it as practice because it was too fancy.”
This dinner is simple compared to the other lavish anniversaries he has heard of. Still, Zhongli was glad that though Childe was aggrieved to find out the Rex Lapis he was assigned to steal the Gnosis from was Zhongli, that he was an unwitting pawn in Zhongli’s plan to test Liyue with a scenario of great peril, that Zhongli had essentially lied to him of his identity, Childe eventually forgave him. Childe had also accepted sacrificing Zhongli, whilst under the impression Zhongli was an ordinarily mortal Liyue citizen, by summoning Osial just to draw Rex Lapis out. To both, their political lies and sacrifices held nearly equal weight.
“I am glad that we are friends today.”
“What was the phrase again? Yesterday’s enemies are today’s friends?” Childe mutters while munching on shrimp. “Besides, you were working together with the Tsaritsa. I couldn’t stay angry for long.”
“I appreciate you for who you are. Truly.”
“You too, Zhongli. You’re the most understanding friend I’ve ever met. But it’s more than that.”
Childe pecks Zhongli’s cheek with a chaste kiss.
“I love you. I hope I never have to choose the Tsaritsa over you.”
“As do I, Childe. I hope I never have to choose Liyue over you as well.”