Chapter Text
Childe was a bit giddy. His plan to get the gnosis had failed, and the traveler had also ruined his plans for the destruction of Liyue. His vision kept on blurring as he walked, but nothing he couldn't handle.
Just a little more time, and then he'd be able to rest.
His entire body felt like it was made out of the lead, and Childe dragged his legs over the stairs, wishing for a nice, hot cup of his favorite drink his mother made, but he'd have to wait a little more to be able to get that.
Childe ran his hand over the place that was hurting the most, his waist. The traveler had gotten a solid hit there, and Childe could feel the cloth sticking to his skin, damp with blood. The majority of his body was bruised, and even walking seemed like something impossible.
Just a little more. And for his family, he must see to it that he ends this deal.
He opened the door to the Northland Bank and was greeted by the sight of 2 familiar people.
"Signora? Why are you here? And Mr. Zhongli?" Childe asked, trying to ignore the feeling in his stomach.
Shouldn't Mr. Zhongli be with Hu Tao, protecting her or something? Either way, he certainly shouldn't be standing on Fatui property with another Harbinger.
Something wasn't right here.
"Oh Childe! Wonderful. Since you failed your mission, I'm here to show you exactly how you do things. Morax, shall we?"
Childe looked over to Zhongli with a confused expression, not thinking clearly. Morax? No Morax was dead. That was why Osial had been revived. Was Singora high on something? Being high on duty was certainly looked down upon, but there had to be something he was missing.
Blood pounded in Childe's ears. Morax?
No, he'd supposed to be dead- No wait.
His eyes darted to Zhongli's eyes, ones he was so sure he knew so well. But now, instead of being amused, his amber eyes looked cold and....exactly like an archon's. Why is he looking like that? Why is he here?
Is he-
"You-You're morax? Mr Zhongli?" Childe asked, hating the way his body was starting to shake, even if just a little bit. This had to be a part of some bad dream.
Zhongli looked over to him, examining him closely. He never said a word, and simply looked back at Signora.
"Childe, hush now. I don't have time for you to whine like a baby. This is cooperation between harbingers." Signora snapped at him, getting impatient. Childe turned towards her, a whirlwind of emotions brewing inside his body.
"You call this, cooperation?" Childe asked. His voice didn't seem weak anymore. It seemed angry, and oh fuck yes he was angry.
He was majorly pissed off at Signora and......Morax.
Not his Zhongli, not someone who he used to buy dinners for, not someone who used to teach him to use chopsticks. This was not the same person Childe knew, not the person he'd spent evenings with. This was not the person Childe has delayed his mission for, this could not be him. This was a completely different creature. This was Morax, a god.
"Oh, look. You're friends have decided to join in." Signora's voice broke him out of his murderous thoughts.
Childe looked towards where the traveler was standing. They seemed equally weary of Childe as much as they were of Signora.
He smiled and waved. Something as small as this shouldn't make him angry, and yet his fatigue from before was completely thrown out with a desire to kill those who made a fool of him. He wanted to punch himself in the jaw for even thinking that someone like Zhongli would even be an inkling of what Childe had thought.
This was no time to be wallowing in his heartbreak. He had to listen to what Signora was saying. No matter how much he wanted to sock that bitch in the face.
He clenched his jaw, and tried to pay attention to what they were saying in front of him.
Zhongli said something about adpeti's being excellent, and his warm tone made Childe's stomach clench.
"Hey, what about me? Doesn't anyone feel the least bit of remorse for deceiving me? You've practically kept me in the dark!" He could see Zhongli's head turn back a bit, just a bit, but he never looked in his eyes.
Signora interrupted them, going on to say something about Childe's role, her undertone making it very clear. 'You are a pawn. Act like it.'
Childe's blood was boiling now. Who did she think she was, acting all high and mighty like that? They were both harbingers, and if Childe has his way he could kill Signora as soon as he could. But he wasn't foolish enough to attack her. Their power difference was enormous, and she could actually kill him right now. He'd spar with her in Snezhnaya, where she couldn't actually take his life.
Deciding it was pointless to stay here any longer, Signora told him to get back. Childe bit the urge to stab her eyes out with his hydro blades.
Childe rolled his eyes. "I'll get back myself. I still have 2 weeks before I'm supposed to go back. And no way in hell will I share a boat with you."
"Hm. Suit yourself." She said as she pocketed the gnosis, and walked out.
Silence engulfed them, but Childe's head was still ringing, the blood pounding in his head, and his legs had started aching again.
Anger had left him worse for wear, and he couldn't deal with whatever this clusterfuck was.
"Oh uh-" Paimon's voice broke the air, even Childe could feel how heavy it was. And he was aware that he was letting his emotions control him right now, but fucking lord he was so pissed off.
"We'll leave for now." The traveler said, obviously sensing the tension. Childe could see the cuts and scratches on their body, and the tiredness in their body. He felt partially bad, but another part of him could not give a fuck.
"Yeah! Zhongli, we'll see you some other time. Don't forget we still have to ask you questions!" Paimon said.
Childe zoned out, refusing to meet Zhongli's eyes even after he could sense them on his back. He wasn't getting a chance to talk that easy. Childe would die before he let that Archon walk all over him and then have the audacity to try and make things right.
"I'll get going." Childe said, ignoring the squeak of surprise from Paimon. "Uh- Shouldn't you talk to Zhongli?"
"About what? I don't see any reason to talk with a retired god. What worth does he hold now? He could kill himself for all I care." Childe said, not bothering to hide the venom in his words. He could care less about his reputation right now.
"Childe..." The traveler said, eyes softening. Childe looked at them. "Once again, Traveler. It was nothing personal. You should see someone about those wounds of yours, and get some rest. I look forward to sparing again, hopefully on different terms now." Childe said, waving a little.
And then, without a glace at Zhongli, he left.
The air didn't change much after Childe left, although now the traveler and Paimon were staring at Zhongli. He wanted to sink into the ground and pretend like what Childe had said hadn't caught his off guard.
"You really hurt him. Paimon thought you guys were very close." Paimon said, and the traveler nodded.
Zhongli sighed, as he closed his eyes "We were. It's just that- I didn't think this would be that big of a deal. He did complete the mission, so I just- I didn't count his pride." He felt stupid now. Of course Childe would be mad.
This was his mission, and after everything, it all came down to the fact that Zhongli had let him on despite knowing his true intentions. This was partially his fault.
The traveler spoke this time. "As someone who's been here for 6000 years, you might not think of human life as a lot, but he trusted you as a friend. It's not surprising that he's so mad. I'm honestly shocked he didn't transform and fight you right now. But his injuries....I'm a bit concerned about those."
Zhongli wanted to walk away and never look back. The traveler didn't speak much, but when they did it felt like they could see right through you.
Zhongli nodded. "He's lost a lot of blood, and that Delusion is eating away at his life force. I'm worried about him. He isn't the type to make rash decisions, but I don't think he's thinking clearly right now. That wound could be a problem. Do you think I should go talk to him?"
"Well not right now! Let him cool off a bit, and then check up on him. Paimon would feel terrible if she were in Childe's position right now." Paimon said, and the traveler then asked Zhongli questions regarding him as Rex Lapis.
Zhongli answered them as best as he could, without giving away too much information. The traveler still needed to make the choices for themselves, before Zhongli could actually help them. It wasn't the most ethical thing, but morals had never been on the resume to become a god.
They were expert liars, after all.