Chapter Text
Zhongli did not expect this to happen. Not at all.
—
Teyvat Online: Superstar Tartaglia—or as he is affectionately called by fans—Childe, is the youngest member of Fatui Entertainment's hit-idol group, “Harbingers" . Known for his magnetic aura and mischievous charm, he has risen to meteoric success, leaving a long trail of smitten fans in his wake.
And said fans will be thrilled to hear that Childe—along with his fellow band members, will be gracing GI Entertainment's newest event! This event is being kept carefully under wraps, cited as “ A surprise for fans for the group’s upcoming 4th anniversary."
This mystery event is said to be held on the 6th of December, and ticketing sales next Thursday, November 28.
—
Zhongli was a man of routine. Each morning at 7:30, he'd arrive at the firm with tea prepared by his assistant, followed by an in-depth review of his schedules and appointments of the day. His work at the firm was always precise and efficient, his words as concise and persuasive in court as his penmanship. Both the firm and its clients held him in the highest of esteem, an unparalleled force of knowledge and competence.
And yet, only few will ever guess that beneath his intimidating title as one of Liyue's most accomplished lawyers lay an unabashed fanboy.
He ran a fan account, Rex Lapis, that for some reason had gone viral in the fandom. It started innocently enough—scrolling through Twitter during his downtime and coming across a fancam, another and another. It was Childe's birthday then, and fans had flooded the platform with birthday messages and clips of the idol, and one look into the azure eyes had Zhongli hooked.
He left a comment—a spontaneous decision led by curiosity on who the charming red haired man on the screen was led Zhongli into the Harbinger's fan community, and down a rabbit hole of fancams, live streams, and fan edits.
It was to his surprise(and secret amusement) that his account had gained attention, thanks to his participation in fan projects and viral selcas, with immaculate 3-piece suits and artfully undone ties.
His fingers moved across his keyboard, typing out a new tweet, “I've just received word about the Harbinger's event on the 6th. I cannot wait to witness whatever it is they've prepared for us. And as always, I'm brimming with excitement to once again witness Childe shine on stage.”
In the fandom he was known as THE Childe stan. From generous donations for Childe cup sleeve and fan projects, to the ‘Childe Poetry’ he posted.
In minutes, his notifications began to light up, replies and reactions pouring in,
“LAPISS YOU SIMP !!!”
"me anf my dumb brain had to take a sec to understand this old man language, lapis"
"MY GOOD SIR I AM ON MY KNEES!! When are you posting your fancams from last month’s concert? 🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻”
Zhongli chuckled softly, his gaze flittering to his phone's wallpaper—a photo of Childe from Zhongli's first concert. It was a little blurry from the way he was shaking then, but it did nothing to take away from the way Childe's eyes crinkled at the edges, his smile wide and happy as he energetically sang their last encore song.
It was his first time ever attending such an event, and at first he felt out of place in his suit and tie, but the moment the lights in the concert stadium dimmed and the group made their entrance—he found himself choked with a gasp, Childe—whose pictures and videos failed to convey how utterly captivating he was in person.
Adorable freckled cheeks, and the way he seemed to never run out of energy, running from one part of the stage to the other, his notes hit perfectly as he ran around. His eyes, alight with purpose and mischief, captivated him in a way he could never fully understand.
Zhongli, who had spent countless hours watching fancams and scrolling through meticulously edited photos, was unprepared for the sheer magnetism Childe exuded in person. His playful winks and flying kisses made his heart race and red flood his cheeks.
He sat frozen in his seat, his heart matching the beat of the booming bass. His fingers itched to take out his phone and record, but he couldn't tear his eyes away.
Childe wasn't just a performer, he was a—by all definitions, an idol. He drew in everyone in the crowd, and Zhongli, a man of logic and reason wholeheartedly allowed himself to surrender to it.
The final encore song was what drew him in. As the group was closing up the performance, Zhongli found himself eye to eye with Childe as he sang the last notes of the song, and he felt the breath leave his lungs, watching the younger man bend to accommodate the high note, the vein in his throat prominent and the smile in his voice heard by all.
Zhongli’s world narrowed to nothing but that incandescent image of him—a snapshot burned into his memory forever.
And as the lights dimmed and the cheers echoed around him, Zhongli understood that this wasn’t just admiration anymore. It was devotion. And Zhongli, utterly powerless against it, found himself already anticipating the next time he could witness that perfection again.
—
It was his lunch break, and instead of his usual lunchtime chatter with his colleagues, Zhongli had holed himself in his office, a strict “do not disturb me" order firmly in place.
His heart was racing as his finger hovered on the mouse key, his pointer already positioned for maximum speed to purchase a ticket once the ticketing server went online.
Ticketing was a battlefield, and veteran or not, Zhongli would be damned if he allowed another to take away his seat.
The last time he had failed to secure a ticket left him in a foul—and no I'm not sulky, Hu Tao I'm merely not in the mood—mood for days, lips pouting and moping.
He periodically refreshed the page, timing it to ensure he was the first to access the seat picker. And there! Once the server went online, his hands flew across his desk, selecting a seat in the second row, to the left side of the main stage—the perfect spot for fancams and photos.
And once he ensured his place at the concert, he allowed himself a happy smile, his forehead coming to rest in his palm, amused laughter bubbling out of his mouth.
“ How childish, Zhongli. Simping for a man 6 years your junior.”
And Zhongli did not hold any illusions about Childe—he was simply a fan, and Childe was the idol he admired. He was very much content with watching the idol from afar, and joining in on his community, but Zhongli did not see the need to meet with Childe.
It was fan meetings that were the only events he did not attend, as he was very content with his life as another nameless face in the crowd.
Little did he know that soon, that would not be the case.
—
Zhongli felt the wide smile that crept onto his face the moment Childe went on stage, as per usual, the younger man’s hair was sticking up in all directions, the toughest hair sprays and gels unable to tame the ginger locks with the sheer energy Childe possessed, jumping and running across the stage.
And as the current song ended, he felt a sense of excitement grow as the host stepped back onto the stage, “And now, I'm sure everyone is wondering what exactly our Harbingers were referring to when they mentioned they had a surprise for today!”
The host, Navia was a gorgeous blonde, who was amazing at hyping up the crowd, and Zhongli unwittingly found himself perched at the end of his seat as Navia revealed the ‘surprise’ event for today. His hands—he trained them to remain steady, despite whatever he might be feeling, inorder to take high quality fancams and photos—positioned as he panned the camera towards Childe, capturing the excited little smile grow on his face.
“As a boy group that prides itself on being very loving to your fans, Pantalone, could you please tell everyone what you prepared for them today?”
He moved the camera to Pantalone, a tall, handsome man with long dark hair. Zhongli felt himself softly cheer at this, joining the cacophony of screams that erupted the moment the bespectacled man stepped forward to speak into the mic,
"As a thank you to our devoted fans for their unwavering support, we decided to show you our appreciation in a more… personal manner. We've prepared a card—each with everyone's representative emoji, and if you’re lucky, you’ll find it under your seat.”
Zhongli felt his heart speed up, moving to hold his camera in one hand, he bent over, critical eyes looking for a slip of paper beneath his seat,
"And if you do, please stand up and present it to our staff at the sides of the stage.”
He almost dropped his camera—there, in between his fingers lay a small slip of paper—with a fox on it and felt his breath hitch.
He quickly looked to his seatmate, who was screaming as she grabbed his shoulder, “OH MY GOD! YOU'RE SO LUCKY OH MY GOD!! PLEASE GO AHEAD, I PROMISE TO TAKE CARE OF YOUR STUFF FOR YOU, AND I'LL TAKE PHOTOS OF YOU.” she urged, looking as though she was refraining from shaking him—courtesy perhaps to the camera in his hand—and after a beat he acquiesced, shakily handing her his stuff (if she took anything Zhongli would ensure she pays) and walked towards the stage, face flaming.
As he joined the small group of 4 other fans at the base of the stage, he felt the spotlight shining on them, looking around, he found the camera trained on him and he smiled, awkwardly waving as he could see himself being projected on the big screens.
“OH NY GOD IS THAT REX LAPIS ON THE ACREEN???? kevwifwiwn"
“GUYS APPARENTLY LAPIS WAS CHOSEN FOR THE FAN EVENT OMG OMG WHAT IF HE GOT CHILDE'S EMOJI?!?!?”
“OKAY but HOW THE HELL is Lapis SO DAMN LUCKY WTF!?!?! GOD'S FAVORITE FRFR (LOCK YOUR DOORS LAPIS I WILL BE COMING FOR YOU)"
The staff, after verifying his card—Childe’s card—swiftly instructed him and the other chosen fans to get on the stage,
“Now I may not be the most active fan in the fandom, but is that gentleman in the suit Rex Lapis?” Navia’s voice boomed as she approached them, "The crowd is going crazy and I'm not sure it's purely because of the Harbingers” she stated, sidling up next to Zhongli as she began to lead them towards the center of the stage—towards Childe and the other Harbingers.
"HAHAHAHAHA GUYS GUYS DO YOU SEE HOW RED LAPIS IS OH NY GOD”
"No fr he's so red rn i think hes about to pass out”
"NOT TO BE DELUSIONAL OR ANYTHING BUT DO YOU SEE HOW INTENTLY CHILDE IS LOOKING AT ZHONGLI?"
Zhongli could not believe this was happening, his palms began to sweat—something that had not happened in years—and before he could even begin to regain his bearings Navia spoke,
“Now I'm sure everyone is dying to know what these lovely 5 are on the stage for! And Childe, you seem to be pretty intent on staring at our finely dressed gentleman here, please explain to everyone our game for today!”
Childe's grin widened, the singular fang on the left side of his mouth drawing Zhongli's attention like light to a moth, “Well! As much as we'd love to be able to interact with every single one of you!" he shouted, turning towards the crowd and he hyped them up, “I'm afraid we'd die before we finished—so we came to this little compromise! Five of you, randomly chosen, will be playing a little game with each of us! Paired with the person who was lucky enough to get our card-” at this Childe abruptly turned towards Zhongli and winked. Winked!
“We'll be competing against the other members and their partners in a series of games! And of course, the winning team gets a pretty sweet prize, a complete tour and date around Fatui Entertainment's newest headquarters!"
His stomach wasn't only doing flips—he was sure it was doing a whole gymnastics routine with the way Childe began to advance towards him, stopping just shy from being chest to chest.
Breath Zhongli, breath. You are on camera right now and Hu Tao would never let you have a moment of peace again if you do something embarrassing-
“And dear Tsaritsa, if I'm not mistaken, you my good sir are Rex Lapis, my fan who seems to have as many as I do. Tell me, was our meeting fated by celestia today or is it really just coincidence that this-" Childe's hand, delicate and so soft-looking, plucked the paper he was clutching on to, eyes widening as if he really did not expect Zhongli to have picked his card.
He threw his head back, and Zhongli was treated to a close up of the way Childe's eyes crinkled, his body shaking in mirth and Zhongli watched, frozen.
“Huh, it really does seem like Celestia wants us to meet, Mr Rex Lapis!" Childe jokes, his grin widening as he teasingly—poked?!? Zhongli’s cheek as he did.
He felt as though he was dreaming, that in just a few, short moments he'd wake up at his desk, a crick in his neck from falling asleep doing paperwork. But no, the heat that intensified on his face was a wake up call—that this was real, and he was currently standing in front of Childe, gaping like an idiot.
He forced himself to take a deep breath, his years as an attorney culminating into this singular moment as he gathered his wits, “Indeed, it seems like our meeting today was ordained by the Gods, Childe. I'm a big fan.”
He smiled, feeling it grow as he watched Childe clutch his chest, as though he was injured, then shot back with a teasing grin, “Oh, of course you'd have a nice voice!” Childe’s grin only widened as his arms crossed across his chest, the playful gleam in his eyes never fading as he leaned in just a little closer, clearly enjoying the banter.
“Tall, good-looking, and a nice voice? Geez Rex Lapis, if you're tempting me—it's working.”
“SHUT UP NO WAY CHILDE RECOGNIZD LAPIS"
“CHILDE GET TO THE BACK OF THE LINE WE'VE ALR CALLED DIBS ON LORD REX LAPIS”
“THIS IS KILLING ME REX LAPIS LOOKS LIKE A TOMATO WITH HOW RED HE IS AND CHILDE LOOKS SO SO PROUD OF HIMSELF JWBWISBSJHE"
Zhongli could feel the heat rising again, and he was sure he was gaping quite unattractively right now as his thoughts raced in his mind. Childe, his idol, KNEW him?!? Not only that but RECOGNIZED HIM ON THE SPOT!
Blinking rapidly to regain his bearings, Zhongli cleared his throat, keeping his smile in place, even as his heart raced in his chest. “Oh? But I've only just started.” he teased back, allowing a trace of playful mischief to color his words as the other pairs quickly took their positions. Childe’s eyes gleamed as he leaned in slightly, clearly relishing the banter.
“Maybe just a little,” Childe replied with a wink, his grin widening as he gave Zhongli a once-over, clearly enjoying the attention. “But I think I’m just more curious about how lucky I am to have gotten someone like you for this game,” he added, his voice lowering, though the teasing edge never left it.
Zhongli couldn’t help but chuckle, his earlier tension easing just a little under Childe’s confident demeanor. “Perhaps it’s just fate,” he said smoothly, his voice steady, though a little spark of excitement danced in his chest.
Navia, sensing the crowd’s growing excitement, interjected with a laugh. “Alright, alright, you two can flirt later. For now, let’s focus on the games!”
Childe smirked, clearly enjoying the situation, while Zhongli wished for the stage to swallow him whole.
“R THEY FLIRTING OHEUVWJSVS"
“WHAT.THE.HELL.LAPIS! WHY ARE YOU STEALING OUR MAN LIKE THAT I THOUGHT WE WERE A FAMILY"
"childe and rex lapis omg ive died and ascended to heaven i will never recover from this”
He felt himself relax further as the other members were paired up, and he and Childe were ushered into their spot on stage, waiting for Navia to explain the game mechanics.
The other Harbingers greeted their chosen fans with varying levels of enthusiasm—Pantalone was polite as he guided his fan by the elbow, Arlecchino was smiling softly—as the fan she was paired with was a young boy named Lyney, Scaramouche was startlingly red as Kazuha recited a haiku to him, Capitano’s fan—Ororon, looked seconds away from passing out, and Dottore was charmingly theatrical. But none of them commanded the attention that Childe and Zhongli did, their dynamic already drawing whispers and speculation among the crowd.
Childe, ever the embodiment of restless energy, bounced on his feet with a grin that could rival the sun's brilliance. Zhongli couldn't help but admire how easily Childe drew the crowd's focus, his presence a magnetic force. For a fleeting moment, Zhongli felt himself shift—still grounded, but with a greater sense of confidence. He’d never been one for flamboyance, but next to Childe, he would hold his own. He would make sure of it, he'll do his utmost best in the game inorder to win, he was already playing, after all.
As Navia began to explain the rules, Zhongli's gaze wandered to the audience. The deafening cheer of excitement reverberated around him, but his mind was elsewhere for a moment—was this really happening? He had spent years watching Childe from the shadows, admiring the way the Harbinger effortlessly commanded attention. And now, here Zhongli was, standing beside him on the same stage, partnered for a game of all things, it almost felt too surreal.
Sneaking another glance at the man beside him—something he could not even blame himself for—Childe was just so utterly captivating. Beyond his otherworldly looks, Zhongli was captivated by every facet of Childe’s public persona, the parts of himself he so graciously shared with the world.
Easy-going confidence, and a kindness and desire to nurture those around him. Childe held a grace Zhongli did not know was possible, his movements sharp and oozing power as he danced on stage, his voice raw and so very passionate as he sang and rapped.
The way he played his fans like a fiddle, knowing just what to do to tease and make them scream with happiness. The love he embedded into everything he did. And once upon a time, Zhongli had felt suffocated by this, and was content to watch from the stands, gawking from a distance.
But now that he was here—breathing the same air as Childe—he suddenly found that the awe-struck he had lived for the last four years was nothing compared to being in his close proximity.
Navia handed Childe a microphone. “As one of the more… competitive Harbingers, I’m sure you’ve got a strategy for winning?”
“Oh, definitely,” Childe said, spinning the mic in his hand before pointing it dramatically at Zhongli. “I’ve got the ultimate partner. Seems like fate—or maybe my luck—brought us together, huh?” He tilted his head, his azure eyes sparkling with mischief and curiosity. “I’m honored to be paired with the Rex Lapis.”
Zhongli’s mouth went dry. He forced a polite smile, praying it didn’t betray the chaos swirling within him. “The honor is mine,” he managed, his voice steady despite the rapid thundering of his heart.
The crowd’s cheers grew louder as Childe leaned in slightly, his tone dropping to something conspiratorial. “Let’s give them a show they won’t forget, partner.”
Zhongli’s legs felt weak, but years of professional decorum kept him upright. This was a moment unlike anything he had ever prepared for. Courtrooms, high-stakes negotiations—none of them compared to standing on stage, face-to-face with the idol he had admired from afar, who was now smiling at him like they were old friends.
The game, from what Navia had explained, seemed simple enough: she would ask a question, and in order to answer, the pair must complete a short challenge, and the team that gets the correct answer wins.
He shared a look with the red head, having already expected the competitiveness in the azure eyes that pierced his own, and Zhongli found himself mirroring this, nodding at him, Zhongli strengthened his resolve. He would win this for Childe… and himself.
—
“ OKAY BUT CHILDE AND REX LAPIS ABSOLUTELY DESTROYED THE OTHER HARBINGERS😭😭"
“the absolute TENSION those two were radiating is INSANE"
“Childe had such a stupid grin on the entire time I CANT EVEN DEFEND HIM HES SO DOWN BAD”
Zhongli spent the rest of the weekend in a daze, not only did he talk to Childe in person, but he also won another opportunity to meet him again.
After winning Childe had dramatically escorted Zhongli back down the stage, the other Harbingers doing the same—albeit with much less flamboyance—but before he could get back to his seat,
“ I'm excited to give you a tour, Mr Lapis!" Childe said, his voice quieter as something more real surfaced.
Zhongli smiled back at him, “ So am I, Childe. It's truly been an honor."
“An honor, huh?” Childe teased, stepping closer, so close that Zhongli could feel the warmth radiating off him despite the cool stadium air. “You sure it’s not fate? You’ve got my card, after all.”
But as Monday rolled around, Zhongli somehow found the bravery to go to work, and as expected, the moment he entered he had Hu Tao hot on his tail.
“ Mr. Zhongli! I didn't know you were a fanboy! Ohoho don't think I'm not aware of your little date with megastar Tartaglia last Friday, it was all over twitter! And a fan account too! Why so secretive, boss?"
Zhongli’s face flushed at the mention of his encounter with the idol, though he tried to keep his composure. "It wasn’t a date, Hu Tao," he said, his voice steady, but a slight hesitation betrayed him. "It was a game for the concert, where I was fortunate to have been picked to participate in."
Hu Tao raised an eyebrow, her mischievous grin only widening. "Oh, a 'game’, huh?" She leaned in closer, her tone a mock whisper. "You two were practically glowing. You sure there was no extra... spark between you two?"
Zhongli shifted uncomfortably, trying to focus on the pile of paperwork on his desk, but the memory of Childe’s smile—the way his eyes sparkled when they'd talked after the game—kept sneaking into his thoughts. He cleared his throat. "We were simply enjoying a bit of banter, nothing more."
Hu Tao just laughed, clearly enjoying the sight of her usually stoic boss flustered. "Sure, sure. But I’m telling you, Mr. Lapis," she said, tapping his desk for emphasis, "The rest of the office is gonna lose it when they get wind of this."
Zhongli’s eyes narrowed slightly, though a small, reluctant smile tugged at his lips. "Please don’t tell me you’ve already gossiped about this. It’s very rude to gossip about your superior, Hu Tao.”
Hu Tao’s grin turned sly. "Who, me? Never," she said innocently, though the playful glint in her eyes said otherwise. "But I’m sure the others will catch on soon enough. Anyway, have fun being Tartaglia's boyfriend!"
—
Zhongli sat at his desk, his mind still lingering in a haze of disbelief. The events of the weekend felt almost like a dream—so surreal, like a moment plucked from fantasy and dropped into his life without warning. He couldn’t quite grasp how it had happened: he had met Childe—Childe, the person he had admired from afar for so long. And not only that, but he had spoken with him, shared laughter, and... won a chance to see him again.
The memory of Childe’s smile, his teasing tone, and that brief moment of connection sent warmth flooding through Zhongli’s chest. He could still feel the echo of Childe’s presence—his words, “You’ve got my card,” lingering in his mind. A simple statement, yet it felt weighty, more than just a casual exchange. It was exhilarating.
Zhongli let out a soft sigh, a small smile tugging at his lips. It was more than he had ever imagined. His world felt subtly different now, like a part of him had shifted in a way he couldn’t fully explain. Maybe it was foolish, but he couldn’t help but feel… special.
As the hum of the office buzzed around him, distant voices echoing through the corridors, Zhongli realized that while the world went on, for him, nothing would be quite the same. Not after meeting Childe.
And for Zhongli, that was more than enough.