Thread by @shire_zc

#ZhongChi #鍾タル fic where Childe pretends to be a scholar in Sumeru. Implied #haikaveh

Childe blended into the Academiya better than he had expected to. After all, he wasn’t the books and pens kind of person, unlike almost every other scholar. Yet he found himself

making friends rather easily.

It didn’t take long for him to meet Kaveh and they became friends quite quickly. They were both kind of talkative and could talk about just anything. From fishing to food to lovers…

Well, Childe evidently became much quieter when they talked

about that topic. Kaveh would complain about Al Haitham, about how he’d always take his keys.

Childe would just listen and nod.

When Kaveh finally asks him about his love life, Childe just sort of shrugged and shook his head slightly.

“I’ve never had a love life. I thought

I did but…”

“Huh? What’s that supposed to mean.”

They had a couple of drinks and it was enough for Childe to start spilling.

He talked about how he was tricked by Zhongli. About how he thought that they were lovers but in reality, he was just a pawn. He also talked about

how he never got an apology and Zhongli just disappeared from his life after the whole incident.

Kaveh was a good listener. He had his fair share of fighting with Al Haitham. It felt like they weren’t even together most of the time.

The pair bonded over the topic.

Childe was

weepy about the whole thing. Kaveh felt bad for Childe and gave him a hug to comfort him. They ended up staying that way for a while.

“You’re so nice, Kaveh.” Childe sniffled.

“You’re really nice too, Childe.”

“Why don’t we like each otner? Maybe they’ll change if

they know…”

“That’s not a bad idea.” Kaveh mused. “So we’ll just act.”

“Yeah, like call each other pet names.”

The two drunk males started coming up with ridiculous pet names to call each other. It was quite fun and funny.

“People actually call each other

Cutie Patootie?” Childe laughed

“Yeah, and Snookums!”

“I think babe is good enough.”

“Alright babe.” Kaveh replied jokingly.

“Who are you calling ‘Babe’?” A voice said from behind them.

They both froze, Kaveh a little more shocked than Childe. But when they both turned

around, Childe was equally as shocked to see a certain brunette.

“Al Haitham…”

“Zhongli xiansheng…”

The both of them did not look happy.

“Childe, what are you doing?” Zhongli frowned.

“I—I, ah…”

“You know him?” Al Haitham asked Zhongli.

“Yeah.” Zhongli replied before

turning his attention back to Childe, “we’re going home.”

“What? No! I’m not going anywhere with you! You’re an asshole! So mean—“ He was instantly silenced when Zhongli sealed his lips against Childe’s.

The drunk ginger melted instantly and held onto Zhongli like

he was going to suddenly disappear.

The kiss drained the little energy Childe had left. He barely resisted when Zhongli picked him up like a baby.

The brunette turned to look at the silver haired male, “I will see you tomorrow.”

Al Haitham nodded and Zhongli left the bar.

Childe fell asleep in Zhongli’s arms before they even managed to leave the place.

Zhongli took care of him, gently changing out his clothes for more comfortable ones and tucking him into bed. Childe slept soundly, like nothing in the world worried him.

The next morning,

Childe woke up with a horrible hangover. He was surprised to find himself in Zhongli’s arms and tried to sneak away. But he never succeeded, not even when they were back in Liyue.

“Zhongli, ah, what are you doing here?”

“A visit. I heard you were here so I chose to come find

you.” Zhongli replied honestly, “so what were you doing yesterday?”

“I, uh, well, Kaveh’s just a friend.”

Zhongli raised an eyebrow.

“And—“ Childe paused, wondering why he was even scrambling for an explanation. Why did he even need to explain to Zhongli, who hadn’t bothered

to talk to him after the whole Osial thing? Now he was mad. “— I don’t need to tell you anything. It’s none of your business.”

“Last I remembered, we were still together.” Zhongli frowned.

“Oh. Now that I might like someone else, we’re suddenly together again? But when you

were planning to trick me, we were nothing huh? You didn’t even try to apologise—“

“Ajax.” Zhongli interrupted, “it was a contract. A contract that I agreed to even before I met you. I could not go back on my words and for that, I apologise. If there were

any other way I could do things, I would have changed my methods.”

It was obvious that Childe was not satisfied with the apology. In fact, he shouldn’t be, because Zhongli wanted to make things up to him.

“Let me make it up to you,” Zhongli said, “I’m truly sorry and I do love

you dearly.”

It was hard for Childe to stay mad. Zhongli was so sincere with his words. Perhaps his heart didn’t want to stay angry because he still loved him back too.

“How… How are you planning to do that?” Childe asked, trying to sound angry, but failing to do so.

“Anything you want me to do.”

“Anything?” Childe asked incredulously.

“Anything.” Zhongli nodded.

“Then fight me. Everyday. Don’t ever hold back.”

“Ajax, that’s not going to work out well.”

“You said anything.” Childe frowned.

“Indeed…” But Zhongli could not agree to that.

Childe’s body probably will not be able to withstand a full fight everyday. He didn’t want his lover to get hurt. “… in that case, every two months.”

“Every two weeks.”

“Every month.”

“Deal. I’ll be holding you to your words.” Childe said.

“Of course, my dear, of course.”

“Great. Then let’s go spar now—“

Zhongli refused to let him go, pinning Childe beneath him.

“Hey—!?”

“Before that… I think you still owe me a bit of an explanation. Who was that scholar?”

“Kaveh, just a friend. Like I said.” Childe started sweating a bit. He’d rather not

reveal the silly plan they had.

“A friend? ‘*Babe*’?”

“Well… we had a stupid plan, it’s really stupid, and it won’t really happen. You don’t have to worry.”

“Really? I know what we can do so I won’t worry.” Zhongli replied.

“Yeah? What is it?” Childe already had a hunch

what Zhongli had in mind. He could already imagine everything and he turned red.

“Exactly what you’re thinking.” Zhongli whispered softly into his ear, making Childe shudder slightly.

It was an incredible time for both of them. It had been a while since they did it after all.

Childe was late to his first ‘class’ because of it and showed up to his second one with a bunch of marks all over his neck.

It was safe to say anyone who saw him knew that he was very much taken.

And Childe didn’t mind it whatsoever,

[END]

Extra:

Al Haitham stares at Kaveh and then raises an eyebrow and Childe and Zhongli when they kiss at the bar.

“Yeah, so, what are you doing, calling someone elses boyfriend ‘Babe’?”

“Well, you see, Al Haitham, I was simply trying to help him get back with his lover.”

“Uh huh.” Al Haitham was not impressed by the explanation.

Drunk Kaveh is just desperately trying to come up with an explanation that wouldn’t end up making him sleep outside for the week.

“I mean, as a senior, I thought I needed to help—“

“Are you sure there weren’t any

personal motivation behind it?” Al Haitham asked.

“No.” Kaveh was quite bad at lying when he was drunk.

“Well then, whatever your reason was, I’m not letting you get away with it.”

Al Haitham punished Kaveh rather harshly that night.