Chapter 1: Only One What?
Chapter Text
The ground under his cheek is rough and gritty and something about it smells…wrong. His mouth tastes like dirt and…blood. And his entire body feels like he’d been trampled by a few Ruin Guards.
“Ugh,” Childe groans and opens his eyes as he slowly pushes himself up onto his knees. Methodically, he wiggles his toes in his shoes, tests his fingers, rolls his shoulders, and just generally tries to figure out whether he’d broken anything from that fall.
What fall?
Obviously I had to have fallen. Maybe I hit my head…?
He reaches up and gingerly touches his head, searching for a bump or a bruise or any evidence of a wound.
Nothing that causes any pain but a clump of his hair is sticky and matted enough that he’d have sworn it must have been mussed with congealed blood but he’d definitely not need to be poking around at his scalp to find the injury if he’d been bleeding that much.
Childe frowns and drops his hand to look at his palm. Streaked with dirt in a way that suggests it must have been scraped on something jagged but the skin is smooth and otherwise unblemished. “Huh…” Slowly, his gaze follows up his bare arm to the sleeve of his shirt.
It’s not his shirt.
Whatever this is, it’s nothing he’s ever worn before. Soft black fabric with sleeves that end above his elbows and made all of one piece so he’d have to pull it on and off over his head to wear it. His pants, too, are strange…some sort of deep blue, almost black color and the fabric somewhat stiffer than his usual choice. His boots, too, are gone and replaced by low shoes that don’t rise past his ankles and seem to have been laced to make them fit properly.
“What. Even…? Wait… wait…”
Childe pats almost frantically around his waist but there’s no hint of the familiar bulge of his Vision. Instead, all he finds is a rectangular metallic device in one of his pockets with a cracked glass panel on one side and a small ring of keys along with a thin leather wallet in the other.
“Unhelpful,” he mutters in irritation before he casts around himself looking in a vain hope for his Harbinger's mask at the very least. He’s not surprised not to see it.
Grumbling, Childe stands up finally and tries to take better stock of himself. Still dirty. His clothes have been ripped in a couple of places and he’s fairly certain those dark splotches are dried blood. But there’s no sign of even so much as a bruise. “In fact…” While he clearly remembers feeling as if he’d been trampled when he’d awakened, even that isn’t evident anymore. He’d be perfectly fine if not for the strangeness of the entire situation.
He’s standing at the bottom of a steep incline near a copse of trees. The ground at his feet is bare of grass and mostly just dirt and gravel and…that’s definitely blood.
Childe sweeps his gaze around looking for signs that something had been injured here and had tried to escape. Into the trees? But they looked relatively undisturbed. After a moment he looks toward the incline and sighs.
The climb itself isn’t too difficult since it’s less of a climb and more of a scramble but reaching the top offers him little more in the way of answers. Just a black road paved with no stone he’s ever seen. And…
Childe tilts his head slightly and walks toward a two wheeled mechanism lying on the road, scraped and battered. Pausing, he glances back toward where he’d come from and the blood staining the ground there. When he does reach the mechanism, he crouches down to inspect it. Still, there’s no spark of familiarity but the shape of what had to have happened is forming in his mind, even if it seems ludicrous.
Standing, he looks up and down the road. A sharp curve, a steep drop…
He returns to the edge and looks down once more at where he’d–apparently–fallen.
“No,” he mutters and takes a step back, “that’s crazy…right?”
Suddenly, a bright trilling noise breaks the silence around him. Stiffening, he searches for the source and retrieves the strange metal rectangle from his pocket. As he raises it, the trilling sound suddenly ends and is replaced instead by his sister’s tinny voice, as if she were speaking from very far away.
“Ajax! You finally picked up! Where are you?”
Blinking, Childe brings the device up to his ear to better hear her, “T-...tonia?”
“Well, yeah. What happened to you? You were supposed to be here ages ago!”
“I…” he looks around himself again, “don’t know. I’m sorry. There’s just…I woke up on the side of the road and I-”
Tonia shrieks, “you what? Are you hurt? Where are you? Do you need an ambulance?”
What’s an ambulance?
After he takes a deep breath, Childe shakes his head. “I’m not hurt. I promise.” He’s not sure how he’s not hurt since all evidence points to the contrary but it’s still not a lie. “But I don’t know where I am.” He laughs a little but there’s no humor in it, “there’s a road. And trees. And other than that I have no idea.”
“What does your phone say?” There’s a sharpness to her voice Childe can’t ever remember hearing from his sweet younger sister but he’s certainly heard it from his mother when she was trying to keep a tight rein on anxious emotion. That was usually caused by him.
“My…phone?”
Instead of a verbal response, he hears what sounds like a sharp gasp and then a few soft tapping noises he can’t place.
“Tonia? What’s happening?”
More tapping and then he hears her take a shaky breath, “when you got your bike you promised Mom you’d leave the locator thing on on your phone just in case something happened. Just…don’t go anywhere, okay?” Tonia’s voice turns pleading, “I’m sending someone to you. Please. Just…stay on the line until they get there.”
Only part of that makes sense but he can get the gist. “Okay, Princess,” he murmurs, “I’ll wait.”
Because really, what else can he do?
Tonia makes a sound somewhere between a laugh and a sob, “you haven’t called me that since I was little.”
“I haven’t?” That doesn’t seem right.
Nothing about this seems right.
“I made you promise when I turned eight that you wouldn’t anymore since I was all grown up,” she says in a wobbly voice.
“Ah…I see.” He doesn’t. “Forgive me, then?”
“No! Uh. I mean. No, it’s okay. I don’t mind. Call me whatever you want. Just don’t go.”
Well, at least patiently calming one of his siblings is something he can handle, he thinks. “Don’t worry,” he says and tries to inject some cheer into his tone, “I’m still standing right here.”
This isn’t Snezhnaya. At least…it doesn’t feel like Snezhnaya but Tonia had made it quite clear that she had been expecting to see him soon. So…where are they? Childe’s fairly certain if he were to ask her he would either upset her more or get an answer he doesn’t properly understand. Or both. Though the trees, he thinks, do look like the ones near Morepesok. But even in summer there’s always a chill in the air and he’s been standing here in very light clothing with no discomfort.
While he’s been thinking, Tonia has been babbling something at him that he assumes is mostly just to fill the space and help her deal with her nerves.
But…she’d mentioned their mother. “Tonia…” he says slowly, “are you alone?”
“Wh-what?” She stutters to a halt and seems to need to regroup, “well. Right now I am I guess. Dad’s still at work. Teucer and Anthon are at a friend’s place. Mom had to run some errands. Oh, she’s going to lose her mind when she gets back. You’re never getting on that bike again.”
Childe flicks a look toward the machinery he’d left lying on the road, “I didn’t want to upset her.”
He never does.
She tsks, almost sounding playful even if it is just a facade, “better come up with a good excuse, then. Wait…” more tapping, “they should be getting there soon. Do you hear anything?”
“I don’t thi-...wait…” he lowers the device and focuses on the sound of something approaching on the road, “yeah, I think so.”
“Good,” Tonia chirps, “I’m glad. They’ll check you out and help you get home, okay?”
A strange buzzing sensation starts at the base of Childe’s skull and makes his ears ring, “okay,” he says vaguely as he focuses his gaze on the approaching vehicle. Some big metal carriage not pulled by any sort of creature though considering this ‘bike’ Tonia had mentioned maybe he shouldn’t be surprised by that.
Tonia’s talking again, something about wondering why she doesn’t hear sirens yet if he says he heard them but he’s too focused on the silhouetted figure sitting inside the carriage as it slowly comes to a halt a few dozen feet away. He still can’t see their face but he knows without a doubt whoever it is, they didn’t come here to help him. After a moment, the carriage’s door opens and the figure emerges revealing a thickly built man in clothes not too dissimilar from those Childe is wearing though the shirt is emblazoned with some sort of letters he can’t make out. What’s more important is the sword the man is carrying and the wolfish expression he’s wearing.
“Princess,” Childe interrupts, “I think they want to talk to me. I’ll see you soon, okay?” Somehow.
He lowers the device from his ear and slips it back into his pocket, ignoring the muffled sound of his sister’s indignation.
“Well, well, well,” the stranger speaks up, looking Childe over. “I’ve gotta say, I didn’t expect someone like you to drop in my lap today. Bet you don’t even know what just happened to you, do ya’?
“That’d be an understatement,” Childe mutters but keeps his gaze on the stranger. “So I guess you’re not the one here to help me, huh?”
“Help you?” The stranger laughs uproariously, “I guess you can call it that if you want. I’ll be nice and let you draw your sword, if you’ve got one.”
Childe’s brow furrows and he thinks about his missing Vision. And the Delusion, for that matter. Even still, he experimentally reaches for the power he’s wielded like breathing so many times before but nothing responds to his call. No Hydro. No Electro.
And now that he thinks about it, no creeping darkness lurking in the back of his mind.
No Foul Legacy.
“Guess that’s a no!” The stranger laughs again and closes the distance between them with a swiftness belying his size.
Just me and my fists then. Okay. Childe ducks past the stranger’s attack but not as quickly as he should have and he misses his opportunity to retaliate.
What? That should have been an easy disarming…
Shaking it off, Childe springs into action, trying to get within the stranger’s guard but even though he knows what he should do, his body just isn’t…quite…obeying.
A sharp line of fire lances across his ribs when he doesn’t quite evade a slice from the other man’s sword and he spits out the filthiest curse he knows.
The stranger snickers, “you kiss your mama with that mouth?”
Childe glowers and decides not to think about how he doesn’t feel blood pouring down his side like he should, “well, I’m definitely not kissing yours.”
Going on the offensive anew, the stranger once again presses the attack, leaving no opening Childe can exploit.
Or at least, no opening Childe can exploit now with a body that isn’t doing what it’s supposed to. Maybe I really did get injured after all. Or something.
“You’re going to get tired long before I am, boy, and you have no idea what you’re in for,” the man taunts. “Why don’t you just give it up and let me have your head?”
“Let you have my-...what?”
“Don’t worry, you won’t even feel it. I’ve taken hundreds of heads in my time.”
Childe stares incredulously. Sure, he’s done his fair share of bloodshed but something about this feels…different. And why is that beeping trill happening again?
Wait.
Wait.
He can use that.
Without a second thought, Childe retrieves the still-beeping device from his pocket and throws it straight for his attacker only to watch in grim satisfaction as it nails the man right in the eye. The stranger screams, raising his free hand to his face and his grip slackens on but doesn’t fully lose hold of his sword.
Body isn’t cooperating but my aim’s still fine!
Only too happy to take advantage of his opening, Childe slides in while he has the opportunity and tears the sword away from the stranger’s hand. The stranger growls and makes a failed grab for the weapon but Childe just chides him, “nuh-uh. Mine now. What was that about taking my head?”
Lowering his hand, the man stares daggers at him, “I’m not gonna make it easy for ya’.”
“I’d be disappointed if you did,” Childe retorts.
So. Okay. Maybe he’s in the most insane situation he could never have thought up on his own. Maybe he still doesn’t really have any clue what happened. Maybe this guy wants to kill him for no good reason. But if he wants a fight, Childe will give him a fight.
Even with his slowed reflexes and lack of muscle memory, it’s not long before a vicious stab sends the stranger to his knees. The man chuckles, choking, “finish it, then.”
“What?”
“My head. You earned it. You won’t get another chance when I get up. Won’t take long.”
Around Childe, it’s like a whole new layer of surreality descends. But the stranger’s probably not wrong. He himself has been trying to ignore this whole time that he’d somehow been able to walk away from deadly injuries without a scratch and that slice over his ribs from earlier should’ve done a whole lot more than it had.
He’s not going to not try to kill Childe again, that much is evident. And if whatever help Tonia had sent was still on the way then…that won’t be good either.
“Fine then,” he mutters. “If you insist.”
As Childe raises the sword to strike he hears the man murmur something under his breath just before the blade falls. A moment later, the stranger's body drops to the ground, lifeless, as his head falls off to the side.
There can be only one, is that what he said?
Childe has no more time to think before a glow rises from the stranger’s body and lightning hits him out of nowhere, filling him with exquisite agony as bolt after bolt strikes him and leaves him staggering until he finally collapses back onto the road in exhaustion.
Dimly, he hears a wailing noise approaching and then the sound of those carriage doors and someone’s running footsteps.
“Well, Zhongli,” a bright female voice says from somewhere above him, “I think this one’s for you.”
Chapter 2: Medical Malpractice
Summary:
Zhongli starts to explain what being an Immortal is. Childe copes really well with it, all things considered, until he has a rather unwelcome realization.
“You died,” Zhongli says. “Or at least that seems to be the case. Your first death. And you became immortal.”
“I died and became immortal. Do you know how ridiculous that sounds?”
“Be that as it may,” Zhongli replies, unperturbed, “that is what happened. There are not many Immortals in the world and there is no way to know, before their first death, if someone is destined to be one. So someone that is to be an Immortal lives out their life as any other human until something happens and they die…but not for long. And when they awaken, they are miraculously healed. As you were. And once this has happened, the only way you can truly die again is if someone takes your head.”
Childe stares back at him. “Everything about this situation is crazy. From the time I woke up…this isn’t even where I belong.”
Notes:
For anybody who has knowledge of how real paramedics work...please accept that I'm handwaving really wildly regarding procedure in this chapter (hence the chapter title lol). To be fair, Childe would be an exception anyway because of the whole Immortal thing. But let's pretend that on any other call Zhongli and Hu Tao would be competent professionals, okay?
(See the end of the chapter for more notes.)
Chapter Text
“Zhongli?” Childe asks in a rough voice as he starts to push himself back up toward his feet. “What are you doing here?”
“Whoa,” the girl who’d spoken first puts her hands up as if to steady him but doesn’t quite connect, “you sure you’re ready to stand?”
Childe looks down at her with a bleary-eyed gaze and recognition slowly dawns. Isn’t she the director of the funeral parlor? Her clothes, he realizes, are–like his own–also strange. At least in the sense that they weren’t the usual sort of garb he recalls having seen her in. Instead she’s wearing long, dark pants with a similar-colored shirt with buttons down the front tucked in neatly. On her shoulders were some kind of insignia patches that didn’t match any organization’s symbol he remembers. “I’ve got it. I’m good.”
Beside Hu Tao, Zhongli stands impassively with his arms crossed while he watches Childe stand. Like her, he’s wearing a dark uniform with insignia patches. After a moment’s consideration, he asks, “you recognized me?”
Blinking, Childe looks back at the other man and suddenly the incongruity of seeing him looking so far removed from how Childe remembers him along with the apparent lack of recognition on his part sparks a little hysterical giggle to rise in him. “Of course I do,” he chokes down the mad hilarity, “don’t try to play me for a fool again, okay? I’ve had a bad day.”
Hu Tao purses her lips and takes a step back, “O -kay . I’ve got a body over there to deal with, I guess. You two have fun!” As she continues moving away, Childe thinks he can hear her muttering under her breath something about identifying the dead man and informing his Watcher.
Not his family?
“A bad day,” Zhongli says, interrupting the younger man’s train of thought. “I take it this was your first Quickening?”
“What?” Childe shakes his head with sharp movements, “are you just going to pretend we’ve never met and talk about things I’ve never heard of, then?”
Zhongli takes a deep breath and looks at him more closely. “I am sorry but we have never met. Perhaps you are still feeling confused due to…” he glances at the corpse Hu Tao is currently rifling through the pockets of and then over at the motorcycle still lying on the pavement, “...recent events.”
Scowling, Childe scrubs a hand through his hair, “fine. Whatever. I’ll play along, I guess. What’s a Quickening?”
Zhongli begins to respond but is instead interrupted. “Got it!” Hu Tao announces, raising a small card in the air, “Colton Rivers. Ever heard of him?”
“No,” the other man shakes his head, “but I do not know all of them.” He focuses on Childe with an inquisitive expression, “what do you know of him?”
“Uh…” Childe shrugs, “never seen him before. He just…showed up. In that vehicle. And then he challenged me to a swordfight. It…he was pretty insistent about the beheading and that if I didn’t do it to him he’d do it to me.”
Zhongli looks at him sharply, “this was a surprise to you?”
“Well yeah ,” Childe scoffs, “obviously. Even I don’t make a habit of going up to complete strangers and challenging them to a duel to the death!”
“I see,” Zhongli says slowly. “By the way, you are Ajax Volkov, correct?”
Wary now, for a reason he can’t name, Childe asks, “why do you ask?”
Sounding just a little exasperated, Zhongli points to the large, box-shaped vehicle he and Hu Tao had apparently arrived in, “we were sent here for you by your…sister?”
Tonia. That’s right. She said she was sending someone. Why didn’t she say it was Zhongli?
“Right. Yes…that’s right. I think. I didn’t know you were the one she’d send.”
Zhongli gives a small, amused, huff, “she called 911. You are lucky we are the ones that were dispatched, Ajax, or this would all be much more complicated for you. Though if this is the first time you have beheaded someone, I am surprised you are not more affected…”
Grimacing, Childe shakes his head. “Not my first fight but…I haven’t made a habit of beheading people. So…this Quickening thing?”
“Hmmm,” Zhongli frowns, “I believe this will become a rather in depth conversation. As such…I should assist my colleague here with the body first.” He turns back to the boxy vehicle and gestures for Childe to follow, “wait here,” he says and points to a spot a few feet away. Once assured that the younger man would do as he was told, Zhongli opens two doors on the back of the vehicle revealing a large compartment packed with cabinets and a low bench alongside what looks like some sort of bed on wheels. With practiced motions, he pulls the bed out from the vehicle then clambers inside for a moment to retrieve some sort of large black bag. Once that’s done, he rolls the bed to where Hu Tao is waiting and both of them work together to get the corpse sealed inside the bag and secured on the bed back inside the vehicle.
Childe watches in fascination while the other two work and only after they’ve moved the body does he remember the device he’d thrown at his attacker’s eye. “Just a second,” he mutters to Zhongli and walks back to where the body had been until he finds the device, looking even worse for wear after having been used as a projectile weapon and crashing to the pavement after.
Zhongli watches him without comment and waits for him to return before he simply says, “we should go now. I’ll explain on the way.”
“But what about those…?” Childe gestures back toward the vehicle the man had come in and the ‘bike’.
“The car,” Zhongli says, “will be considered a crime scene. The motorcycle…” he frowns faintly. “That will be problematic. There’s no room for it in the ambulance.”
From the front of the ambulance, Hu Tao snorts, “don’t worry, I know a guy.”
Zhongli raises his eyebrows, “is that observing or recording?”
The girl turns around to look over the seat at them with a grin, “I observed that the bike needs to be moved and recorded that fact in a message to a friend of mine.” She glances at Childe, “don’t worry. He’ll take care of it for you. For a day or two, at least.”
“Uh…okay. Thank you?”
Hu Tao laughs and turns back forward in her seat, then does something that causes the ambulance to roar to life. “I take cash, all major forms of credit card, and your favorite cash app too!”
Zhongli tsks and gestures for Childe to climb aboard the ambulance, “don’t listen to her. She gets paid well enough as it is with her two jobs. Sit there on the bench.”
Childe nods with a bemused expression and climbs up where he’s directed. Once he’s settled, Zhongli follows after him and closes the ambulance doors firmly. “Now,” he shifts a little to face Childe more directly as Hu Tao starts driving back the way they came, “let us try this again. You do know you are an Immortal, correct?”
That prompts a startled laugh, “what kind of joke is that?”
Zhongli stares at him steadily, “why don’t you tell me what you were doing out there, then?”
Frowning, Childe tries to think back to what all had happened and isn’t pleased to realize there’s a big blank spot in his memory from before he woke up on the ground. There had been…something…I was…floating? No, that’s not right. Ugh, I’ll think about it later, that’s not what he’s asking. “I woke up on the ground,” he says finally. “Off the side of the road down the hill. I felt like hell…for a minute at least,” his expression turns wry, “and I didn’t know what happened. I guess I still don’t.” He gestures vaguely to indicate his torn clothes and his general disheveled and dirty state, “it looks like I had some kind of accident but…I don’t look like it. Not a mark on me I didn’t have before.”
“You died,” Zhongli says. “Or at least that seems to be the case. Your first death. And you became immortal.”
“I died and became immortal. Do you know how ridiculous that sounds?”
“Be that as it may,” Zhongli replies, unperturbed, “that is what happened. There are not many Immortals in the world and there is no way to know, before their first death, if someone is destined to be one. So someone that is to be an Immortal lives out their life as any other human until something happens and they die…but not for long. And when they awaken, they are miraculously healed. As you were. And once this has happened, the only way you can truly die again is if someone takes your head.”
Childe stares back at him. “Everything about this situation is crazy. From the time I woke up…this isn’t even where I belong.”
“Ah, on that note…” Zhongli raises an eyebrow, “what is your address?”
“That is not what I meant,” Childe says with a scowl. “And…I don’t know. Not here.”
Zhongli hums in a noncommittal tone, “we can have dispatch tell us where your sister called from if that is where you wish to go.”
His sister. Home. The desire for that familiar, known space burns within him.
But it’s not really, is it? Zhongli isn’t Zhongli. Director Hu isn’t…herself. What if the others aren’t either?
Childe bites his lip, “I don’t know where else I’d go. I-...just finish telling me the rest, okay?”
“Yes…” Zhongli’s gaze betrays nothing of his thoughts on the matter, “for Immortals there is also the matter of the Game. Many do live out their lives in relative peace but there are those who will seek to find and challenge the others to a duel. Such as you experienced earlier with this gentleman. And so even those who would rather live in peace will learn to use a sword. And that will have to include you.”
“Oh no,” Childe shakes his head, “I already know how to fight with a sword. And a lot of other weapons besides. But-...” he frowns and thinks back to how his body hadn’t entirely obeyed him earlier. “...nevermind. Anyway, so…people try to come kill me…or, I could go find people to kill, I guess,” he ignores the expected look of disapproval on the other man’s face, “we fight…somebody gets beheaded…and then…?”
“The Quickening,” Zhongli supplies. “When an Immortal beheads another Immortal, they receive the total of their opponent’s…life force, or shall we say, their power and experience. On and on this will go until there is only the one that is left to take the Prize.”
“Because it’s some kind of game,” Childe says. “Who came up with that idea?”
Zhongli spreads his hands a little and smiles slightly, “the origins of the Game are lost to the mists of time, unfortunately. But whether or not you choose to participate, it will find you. It already has. If you wish to avoid it, the best you can do is take up residence on holy ground.”
Avoid it? Like he’s just going to run and hide!
“What is that supposed to do?”
“You could say it is one of the rules,” Zhongli says, “there will be no combat on holy ground. It is…a sanctuary.”
“Rules,” Childe says, “well…I guess you can’t have a game without rules…” He lets himself trail off and studies the man beside him. “So…does something like this happen every day around here?”
Zhongli makes a quietly amused sound, “no. Immortals are rare. You truly are fortunate that we were the ones called. Most people would not have understood the situation.”
“Huh…what are you guys then, other Immortals?” If he’s going to accept this weirdness it would at least make sense for Zhongli to be one. Since, the Zhongli he knows at least is a god after all.
The other man shakes his head, “no. Well. Not both of us. I will leave it to Hu Tao to explain the details if she desires, but she is a mortal with knowledge of our kind.”
“Our kind,” Childe echoes. “So she’s not but you are. I…guess if you’re taking me home then you’re not planning on challenging me to one of those duels to the death?” You mean even in this crazy situation he still won’t fight me?
“I am not a headhunter, Ajax. I will fight, if necessary, but I do not seek it out. You said you were already trained to fight? Do you have your own sword then?”
Childe looks down at his hands and once again tries to call on his Hydro blades in what he already knows is a wasted effort. “No,” he sighs when nothing appears, “I guess I don’t.” He points down to where his attacker’s sword had been stowed under the rolling bed. “But looks like he’s not going to need that one anymore,” Childe adds almost cheerfully.
Zhongli’s lips thin, “you were trained to fight but you do not have a weapon. That does not sound like you were trained with the intention of facing true battle.”
Bristling, Childe sneers, “why don’t you try me? He,” he points to the corpse in the body bag, “could tell you I’m not some pushover.”
“Very well,” Zhongli replies, “let us say I feel obligated to ensure you have a chance at survival.” Seeing Childe shift in his seat and something in his body language suggesting a rather surprisingly eager response, he adds, “but not now. There are other matters that must be taken care of and your family is concerned about you.” He tilts his head, “you know you can’t tell them what happened, right?”
Great. More secrets. “To tell the truth, I have no idea what I’m going to say.”
“What you will say,” Zhongli supplies, “is that you experienced a motorcycle accident. You were not severely injured but you did come away with some head trauma that left you unable to remember the exact circumstances.” He pauses. “By rights, if you were someone else, we would be rushing you to the hospital but that would be futile considering there is nothing for a doctor to find. Instead, we will have to make it look like you experienced some minor injury but since you are lucid and ambulatory you refused further medical care. Understand?”
“Okay,” Childe says slowly. “I think I can work with that.”
“It’s not the worst cover story you’ve ever come up with,” Hu Tao comments from the front seat, “but it’s not the best either.”
“There is little for me to work with,” Zhongli retorts and turns his attention back to Childe. “We will still take you to the hospital because we are required to return there and dropping you off at home from the ambulance is much too implausible. But you will not have to check in. In fact…I will take you back in my car. We can make arrangements for your combat evaluation and what might come after, then. Is that fair?”
Childe looks down at his hands, frowning. Well…what else am I supposed to do? Though that does then remind him about the strange communication device he had retrieved that Tonia had contacted him through. This time when he raises it, nothing happens. “Ugh,” he says, “I don’t even know how to use this thing. Tonia talked to me through it. I should…let her know I’m okay, right?”
Zhongli reaches over to take the device from his hand and inspects it, “your phone is a little worse for wear. You may not be able to use it anymore. But…I suppose we may use mine. What is her number?”
“Her…number?” Childe asks in a quizzical tone, “what’s that?”
For several seconds, the other man says nothing then heaves a sigh, “I am beginning to believe there is a lot more we must talk about later. For now…we will just have someone at the hospital call them back and let them know you’re on your way.”
“Sounds like a plan,” Childe says dubiously.
Zhongli calls toward Hu Tao, “how much more time do we have?”
She glances back at him and takes one hand off the steering wheel to waggle it back and forth, “about five minutes. You’d better get him patched up fast!”
“Right,” Zhongli responds and turns back to Childe, “as I said, we will make it appear you received needed medical care. Once you are home I suggest you do not remove the bandages right away.”
Childe scoffs softly, “yeah, that does seem like it’d defeat the purpose.”
“Exactly,” Zhongli says and begins retrieving supplies from one of the nearby cabinets. “We will focus on the places where your clothes were torn. Pull your pants down.”
“Wait.” Childe stares at him. “What?”
“I cannot do this effectively with them in the way,” Zhongli points out before he adds in a dry tone, “I promise you that there is nothing under there that will shock me. There’s quite a lot you see, as a paramedic.”
Childe would never have called himself a prude and it isn’t like he’s never been undressed in front of other people…there’s little privacy in the military, after all, but…After a moment he closes his eyes and does as he’s told. Why does this feel so ridiculous?
Zhongli just nods to himself, and methodically goes about covering Childe’s nonexistent wounds. “There,” he says when he’s done, “you can get them back on again and now remove your shirt. Just one more thing.”
“Fine,” Childe mutters and squirms back into his pants before he tugs off the shirt. Only now that he’s uncovered and actually paying attention to what Zhongli is doing–pressing some kind of gauze to his abdomen and using some sticky material to hold it in place–does Childe finally realize yet another thing strange about himself. He twists a little and raises a hand to a spot just below his ribs. “That’s…not right,” he murmurs as Zhongli pushes his hand away from where he’s working.
“What’s not right?” Zhongli asks, looking up patting the bandage securely in place,
“This,” Childe pokes at the place he’d indicated a moment before. “And here,” he presses a hand higher on his chest. “And a couple spots on my arms.” He frowns and inspects his hands more closely, not finding any of the little scars he remembers nor the calluses he should expect from all the hours he’d spent holding a weapon. “I-...” he shakes his head, “does this Immortal thing make scars go away?”
Zhongli watches him then shakes his head in answer to the question. “No. Any scars you might have had from before your first death should have remained.”
“This isn’t my body,” Childe says, feeling a little bubble of hysterical laughter collecting in his throat again. No wonder it hadn’t responded during the fight like he thought it should. No wonder his elemental abilities are gone. No wonder he can’t sense the Abyss’ touch in the back of his mind. He’d been coping well enough with this ludicrousness, he’d say. But something about having some other body…he looks up at Zhongli, expression stricken, “what happened to me?”
Before Zhongli can respond, the ambulance slows and stops and Hu Tao announces, “and we’re here! Sorry for the bad timing but we can’t just sit here without people wondering what’s wrong, okay?”
There’s something compassionate in Zhongli’s gaze as he takes Childe’s hands in his, squeezing them gently. “I am unsure. But I will help you, Ajax. Let’s get out and we’ll go from there, okay?”
His hands are so warm. He always wore gloves before. I had wondered…
Childe knows he’s focusing on something inane but it’s better than any other alternative he can come up with. So he just nods. “Okay. Let’s go.”
Notes:
I didn't think I was going to update again quite so soon but hey, here we are. :)
Oh yeah, and it's "the bed with wheels" the whole time because nobody ever told Childe it's called a gurney, I didn't forget!
Chapter 3: Family Ties
Summary:
Childe meets his new family (same as the old family) and Zhongli starts testing his combat ability.
"So…" Childe says slowly, "how is this going to go?"
Zhongli glances at him out of the corner of his eye, "we may discuss your situation in greater detail, I will take you to your home, and we can plan how we will meet tomorrow for a…combat evaluation."
"Tomorrow?" Childe raises his eyebrows, "what's wrong with tonight?"
Sighing, the other man pauses at one of the vehicles and proceeds to open a compartment in which he places his bag. "You have had a significant shock. I would prefer to test you when you have had a little time to acclimate and a little rest besides."
Notes:
(See the end of the chapter for notes.)
Chapter Text
Later, Zhongli guides Childe through an underground space below the hospital filled with vehicles of all shapes and sizes. Despite seeming rather maze-like, the other man walks unerringly toward one car in particular. Over his shoulder, he carries a long bag in which he'd stashed the sword Childe had taken from his attacker. "So…" Childe says slowly, "how is this going to go?"
Zhongli glances at him out of the corner of his eye, "we may discuss your situation in greater detail, I will take you to your home, and we can plan how we will meet tomorrow for a…combat evaluation."
"Tomorrow?" Childe raises his eyebrows, "what's wrong with tonight?"
Sighing, the other man pauses at one of the vehicles and proceeds to open a compartment in which he places his bag. "You have had a significant shock. I would prefer to test you when you have had a little time to acclimate and a little rest besides."
Childe frowns, "I guess I'm not really all that surprised. What more do you want to know about my situation as you call it?"
Zhongli unlocks the car's doors and gestures for Childe to get in on the passenger side. "You have mentioned that this is not where you belong, you have said that body is not yours, and you seem markedly unfamiliar with common technology. Why is that?"
It takes Childe a moment or two to realize which of the doors on the car Zhongli had wanted him to use, then what he needed to do with the handle to pull open the door but soon enough he's climbing in to the front seat and pulling the door closed behind him. "I…" he looks down at his hands and flexes his fingers, "I don't think I'm from this world. Maybe? I know how crazy that sounds. But where I'm from we don't have things like…this," he waved vaguely at the car around him. "Phones and numbers and…a lot of this stuff, I've never seen or heard of it before today. Where I'm from our carts are pulled by horses or other pack animals…not whatever powers this machine. There, the only immortal beings are gods and spirits." He laughs, "I'm just a human." Mostly. "Though I did have some power," he shifts to face Zhongli, "have you heard of elemental power here?"
Shaking his head slightly, Zhongli starts his can and begins to back it out of its parking spot. "No, I cannot say that I have outside of, perhaps, a fantasy novel or something else of that ilk."
Childe groans, "great. Just great. Uh, anyway. Some people there have the ability to tap into the elemental powers of the world. I had something that let me use hy-…" he trails off, frowning. No. I didn't. Or. I did but then it stopped working? Vaguely, he remembers facing a handful of thugs on a city street and reaching for the power of hydro only for it not to respond. …right. My Vision stopped working. I gave it to the Traveler for safekeeping. And then…what happened after that?
"Ajax?" Zhongli asks, glancing over at him with concern in his eyes, "something that let you use what?"
"Uh. Hydro," Childe says quickly. "Like…water, basically. I could do all kinds of things with it including form weapons so I didn't really need to carry a blade if I wanted to use something like it." No point in mentioning his bow and how he was able to summon it, he suspects what he's telling Zhongli is unbelievable enough as it is. Just as it doesn't really seem helpful to mention his Delusion or Foul Legacy form either.
"I see," Zhongli says in an even tone, "so you are saying you come from another world unlike this one where you had what are, effectively, magical powers."
Childe crosses his arms and scowls, "I'm not making it up."
As if he hadn't heard the retort, the other man continues, "and you knew me there? Or something like me, at least."
"Yeah, he's kind of immortal too. He works for a funeral parlor which I guess isn't too different from whatever it is you're doing here."
"Hmm. So if I am to take what you are telling me at face value and for the moment I will do just that…then it would seem that if there is another me in this world you come from, there is another you in this world here and you are in his body. Which does make one wonder what happened to this world's Ajax but," Zhongli shrugs slightly, "that seems to be a question we ought to concern ourselves with attempting to answer at another time."
Something icy feels like it trickles down Childe's spine, "oh. Yeah. I guess you might be right." Which means my family isn't really mine, either. He closes his eyes and leans his head back against his seat's headrest. "Maybe that's why I found it so hard to fight earlier. I know what to do in my head but this body doesn't. I guess Ajax didn't get the same kind of training I did."
Zhongli raises an eyebrow but keeps his gaze focused on the road ahead, "Ajax. You say it as if it is not really your name."
"Oh it is. Was. Is." Childe scrubs a hand over his face. "I mean. It's the name I was born with. But when I grew up I took a job, so to speak, that gave me another name. Most people outside of my family just call me Childe now."
"Childe," Zhongli echoes, "you will forgive me for thinking that sounds rather…diminutive."
"Ugh. Childe with an 'e' on the end. Not like I'm a kid."
The other man let his lips curve upward in an expression of amusement, "of course. Forgive me.
"Hmph." Childe watches the streetlights and scenery pass by in moody silence until, "so I told you about me. And now you're taking me to my, uh, family. Who I can lie to about my supposed injuries well enough but how the hell am I supposed to pretend I'm the same person they think they know?"
Zhongli drums his fingertips on the steering wheel while he hums in thought, "you will just have to do your best, I suppose. For tonight, it ought to be simple enough to impress upon them you need to rest after your ordeal. For after…" he glanced back toward Childe, "I will return in the morning to take you somewhere we might discuss how to better make plans going forward. Seven o'clock?"
Childe shrugs with one shoulder, "sounds fine. Not like I know if this me has anywhere to be in the morning."
Another faint smile and Zhongli shakes his head a fraction, "even if you do, you have a reasonable excuse for avoiding it. Though…that said, if something does arise to change that plan, I will give you my-…" he frowns, "your phone is broken. Ah, well. Be that as it may, I will give you my contact number anyway. You may use someone else's phone to contact me and perhaps we will get you a new one tomorrow."
Laughing softly, Childe raises his eyebrows, "you taking me shopping? Well, I don't have Fatui money anymore so I hope you're paying."
"Fatui money?"
"My job," Childe clarifies. "It's-…oh…like the military in my home nation. I'm a pretty high-ranking representative. It has its perks."
In a voice laced with skepticism, Zhongli replies, "your military are called fools?"
Childe clicks his tongue against the back of his teeth, "don't you think that's kind of rude to say?"
Before he responds, Zhongli slows the car then parks neatly at the side of the road directly in front of a rather cozy-looking house. "In this world, there is a language where 'fatui' refers to being foolish." He rummages around a small compartment beside his seat until he retrieves a small notepad and a pen. "Here," he notes down a handful of numerals and hands the sheet of paper to Childe. "You may use this to contact me. Just dial those into any phone. You will hear a sound like a ringing or a buzz, it will let you know I am being notified of your call."
"Okay…" taking the note, Childe folds it up and tucks it away in one of his pockets. "I think I can handle that." Then, raising his eyes to look at the front door of the house, he twists his lips into a sort of awkward grimace. "You're not going up there with me? I might need some backup."
Zhongli shakes his head, "I believe I may do more harm to your story than good. Though…it would behoove you to remember that you are supposed to be injured. Walk stiffly. Tell your family that a friend will be arriving in the morning to take you to a doctor for a follow-up."
Already, they can see someone cracking the house's front door to peer out at them and so Childe slides his hand along the car door until he finds the lever that allows him to open it. "Fine. I'll do my best. And…thanks."
"You are welcome, Ajax. Or…Childe? Goodnight."
Laughing ruefully, Childe climbs out of the car, "whichever. Goodnight."
Okay. Walk like you got tossed around by a few monsters and you've got the bruises to prove it.
Slowly, then, he begins trudging up the sidewalk to what is apparently his family home.
He only gets a quarter of the way there before the door is thrown open and a small, familiar figure dashes out. From the doorway a girl—Tonia—calls out, "Teucer! Don't…!"
Too late, the little boy slams into Childe and throws his arms around his legs, sending him staggering. "Tonia said you got an ambulance," Teucer wails, drawing out the ambulance, half-muffled from where he's pressed his face into Childe's hip, "why'd you get hurt??!?"
"Ah. Teucer. Well," Childe rests one of his hands on the boy's head in a comforting gesture, "I had an accident and they wanted to make sure I wasn't hurt too badly. Don't worry, I'm going to be okay."
Sniffling, Teucer raises his head to look up at Childe, "promise?"
Like I could ever tell him no. "I promise," Childe nods, "now why don't we try to get inside so your big brother can sit down and get a little rest?"
Only after he lets agrees to let Teucer 'help' him back inside by holding his hand do the two of them make their way back into the house. Zhongli, Childe notices, doesn't actually drive away until he's made it to the door. Tonia still stands behind the doorframe and peering out from behind her is his other brother, Anthon. In front of them both though…
Blue eyes the same shade as his are looking him over with the sort of concern and carefully masked anxiety he's all too familiar with. Childe just lifts his free hand a little and smiles crookedly, "guess you heard about what happened…"
His mother sighs and steps closer to him so she can cup his face in her hands, "Ajax," she murmurs, "I do wish you wouldn't be so reckless. And that you had called."
"Well," Childe closes his eyes and lowers his head a little, "my phone kinda…broke. The," what was the word…para-…something? Ugh. Nevermind. "-hospital told me they let you know I was okay and on my way home?"
Frowning, she brushes a little of his hair aside, "you should have had family there. What if things had been worse?" Then she glances down at Teucer sighs again, "come, let's get you inside. Tell me what the doctor said."
"Big Brother said he needs to sit and rest," Teucer informs her.
She humors the boy with a smile, "I agree, he does."
They begin moving once more and Childe allows himself to be led to a sitting room with a couch that once he's settled on it he finds Teucer clambering up beside him. Nearby, his mother says something quietly to Tonia and the girl disappears into another room whereupon Childe can hear the sound of water being poured and the general sound of someone rummaging about in cabinets and drawers.
"Now, Ajax," his mother takes her own seat nearby so she can watch him with a worried gaze. "What happened? Who was that in the car?"
"Uh," he rubs the back of his neck, "I…guess I took a turn a little too fast and became a little more intimately acquainted with the road than I'd planned on?"
Judging by the look on his mother's face, his attempt at humor is not particularly appreciated.
"Anyway…I got a little banged up as you can see," he waves at the torn spots on his clothes and the bandages that can be seen peeking through them. "But the motorcycle got the brunt of it. And Tonia," he smiles at her upon seeing her return with a tray holding a glass of water and a plate with a sandwich cut neatly into four small triangles, "was clever enough to call an ambulance for me. They came out and helped patch me up but I insisted I didn't need to actually go into the actual hospital so-"
"Ajax," he hears his mother interrupt in a pained tone as she rises and moves to inspect him more closely, putting her fingers under his chin to lift his head toward the light and watch how his pupils respond. "I suppose I'm not entirely surprised at you being so cavalier with your own health but the medics sound rather irresponsible."
Tonia bites her lip, places the tray down on the coffee table in front of the couch, and settles in place on the other side of Teucer who leans over to her and whispers, "what's cavalier mean?"
Childe huffs and lifts one hand to clasp hers and move it away from his face, "they looked after me really well. The guy in the car you asked about? That was one of them. He insisted on making sure I got home okay. He even offered to take me to a follow up check-in with a real doctor tomorrow morning."
Pursing her lips, his mother raises her eyebrows, "you insisted you didn't need to go to the hospital but you agreed to go see a doctor?"
Oh. Uh. Whoops. "Well…you know. This guy, Zhongli, he can be pretty stubborn too. I couldn't really talk him out of it. You'd like him."
"Hmph." She narrows her eyes and retorts, "I would like him more if he did not leave swiftly enough to imply a guilty conscience." But after a moment some of the sternness seems to fade out of her and she gestures to the tray, "those are for you. You are an adult now so there is little I can make you do, though," her smile was wry and rueful, "you have always had a mind of your own. Be that as it may, have a little to eat, drink the water, and get some rest. What time will this 'Zhongli' be here tomorrow?"
Oh. She's not going to let him get away so easily, is she?
He reaches for the glass of water first to take a sip which then becomes a greedy gulp when he realizes just how thirsty he actually is. "…seven, I think he said? Please be nice to him, Mama."
She blinks at him, something startled in her gaze and he realizes this must be something else the other him doesn't say just like how Tonia had said he doesn't call her princess anymore. But a moment later, she recovers and shakes her head, "I will be just as nice as he deserves. Teucer," she takes Childe's now-empty glass and holds it out to the little boy, "go get your brother some more water, alright?"
Nodding solemnly, Teucer takes the glass and climbs down from the couch to do as he's been told. Once the boy has vacated his position, Tonia not-so-subtly scoots closer to Childe. Their mother watches with a faint smile then brushes her fingers through Childe's hair affectionately, "Tonia can look after you, I will make sure your bed is made up."
Why does this feel a little like that time right after they found me when I left the Abyss? Like they wouldn't let me out of their sight…
But all he says as he reaches for one of the sandwich pieces is, "okay, Mama. I'm sorry."
She pauses just before climbing the stairs that lead to the bedrooms and looks over her shoulder at him, "you know I forgive you, son. Always."
Unsure of how to respond to that, he just nods jerkily and wonders how he's going to eat his meal around the knot that's tightened in his chest.
Beside him, Tonia chews on her lower lip, "you really scared me, you know. And then you said they were there but it took a really long time before we heard anything." She looks over at him with tears brimming her eyes and smacks him on the arm, "what if you were really hurt? What if you never picked up the phone?" She hiccups and chokes back a sob then whispers, "idiot brother."
"Oh, Princess," Childe can't help but use the endearment as he puts the sandwich back down and opens his arms to her, "your faithful knight will do whatever penance you ask of him."
Her tears flow freely then and she throws herself into his embrace. "Don't ever do anything like that again," she mumbles into his shoulder, "promise me."
"I promise," the words come too easily to his lips but he hates to see her cry. "Never again."
At that, she sits up a little and swipes at her eyes before she holds up her pinky for him to take. "Make a pinky promise."
You make a pinky promise, you keep it all your life…Childe exhales a deep breath and hooks his pinky with hers, "promise. I mean it."
Nearby, Teucer's returned with Childe's water, "me too," he announces, "pinky promise with me too!"
Oh, I hope this is a promise I can keep…if I never ride that motorcycle again does it count? "Okay, Teucer," Childe forces a smile for him and holds his pinky out for the boy, "you can have one too."
He's saved from any further promises by his mother returning to chivvy Teucer off to bed, then Tonia, and finally Childe himself. "Go get cleaned up and sleep well, my son. And don't let that new friend of yours leave without saying hello, understand?"
"I understand," he says and moves vaguely in the direction of the bedrooms just hoping he'll be able to figure out which one is his without having to check each door. He doesn't have to go far to find one more sibling waiting for him patiently by one of the doors. "Anthon," Childe says and frowns slightly, "aren't you supposed to be in bed?"
"I was waiting for you," his middle sibling replies, "I…didn't want to be in the way."
Childe shakes his head and offers up a faint smile, "you wouldn't have been. Are you alright?"
"Are you?"
"Just got a little banged up a bruised. I'll be fine." I've had worse. "You should get to bed, okay? I'm glad you wanted to check on me."
The boy hesitates a moment before nodding sharply and retreating to one of the other bedrooms.
Okay…let's see what we've got in here…
Childe pushes open the bedroom door and carefully close it behind him before he pauses a moment to look around the space. The bed appears freshly made, which isn't surprising and in general it's far more spacious than his own room in his parents' home in Morepesok. Not quite as large as the quarters he was given in Zapolyarny Palace due to his being a Harbinger. "But," he mutters, "looks comfortable enough." Even if Childe couldn't quite discern the purpose of some of the things contained within it. The bed, of course, is self explanatory as is the desk. But the various devices that seem to be resting atop it are a mystery he doesn't care to inspect at the moment. There is a closet and a dresser that mostly seems to contain various types of clothing and shoes. On the wall are hung a few shelves with a small collection of books. Otherwise, there is very little to clutter the space which he can appreciate.
After that cursory inspection, he opens some of the desk drawers, peers more deeply into the back of the closet, leans over to look under the bed then under the mattress itself. "Seriously? No weapons at all? Ugh." He sits on the floor then and leans back against the bed. "What even did you do here, other-Ajax?"
Of course, there was no other Ajax to answer him so Childe had to content himself with finding fresh clothing to wear and then tiptoeing to the bathroom he'd caught sight of earlier in order to take care of a few necessary tasks before sleep.
When he finally makes it to the bed, he throws himself down on top of the covers and stares up at the ceiling. "How'm I even going to get out of this?"
The ceiling, unsurprisingly, has no answers for him.
—
Bright and early at seven on the dot Zhongli returns to Ajax's (Childe's?) home. The young man is already waiting for him outside but instead of approaching the car he gestures for Zhongli to come to him. Upon realizing that the other man isn't going to budge, Zhongli slides out of his car and does as he's been bade. "What is the problem?"
"Eh…not a problem exactly. My mother wants to meet you."
Zhongli stares at him but the door opens before he can respond. A woman with faded red hair and eyes that mirror the young man's beside him steps out and gives him a perfunctory smile. "Am I correct in assuming you are…Mr. Zhongli?"
I suppose I should not have expected his family to have nothing to say considering the strange way Ajax's case was handled yesterday. "Yes," Zhongli nods, "how may I help you, Mrs…?"
"Volkov," she responds, "but I assume you may already be aware of that if you were one of the ones to find my son yesterday. But as someone who has assisted Ajax, you may call me Polina."
"Polina, then," Zhongli says in a grave tone, "I am honored to meet you."
"Ajax tells me you convinced him to see a doctor this morning." She eyes him critically, "and yet for some reason you did not insist he see one yesterday. You are a paramedic, are you not? That seems quite against protocol, I imagine."
Nearby, the young man in question makes a quietly pained sound but seems to be unwilling to interfere with the interrogation.
"Your son," Zhongli says in a smooth tone making no sign that he was offended by her insinuation regarding his professionalism, "was immensely fortunate to escape his accident with only a collection of scrapes, contusions, and likely a rather sore body. We treated him in the ambulance on the way to the hospital and during that time he showed no sign of any injury that might affect his rational judgment. Upon arrival to the hospital, he refused further examination and treatment by emergency room personnel and, as he is an adult, we could not force him to do so. I felt fortunate myself that I was able to convince him to at least see someone in a less fraught setting this morning."
Polina's eyes narrow, "and are you in the habit of performing such follow-up services for all the patients you transport?"
Outright questioning her suspicion of my motives here will be unproductive. He is her son, as far as she is aware. Of course she might be…protective. Even if he is an adult.
"No," Zhongli shakes his head, "I am not. Ajax is an exception. From what I could see he seems worth the extra effort, no? In which case," he glances back toward his waiting car, "that effort will be for naught if he is late for his appointment. Your obvious care for your son does you credit, madam. Please allow me to ensure that care is fulfilled."
After a moment, something in her body language suggests her relenting, "very well. As you say, he is an adult. You appear to be a decent person, Mr. Zhongli. Please do not give me reason to discover my trust is misplaced."
Zhongli bows his head slightly, "I will do my best. Ajax, are you ready?"
"As I'll ever be," Childe mutters then raises his voice a little to be more audible. "Yes, I think I am. Let's...go see what the doctor has to say."
Once the two men have begun making their way down the road, Zhongli looks over at Childe and comments mildly, "your mother seems rather…protective."
"Yeah," Childe keeps his gaze focused on what's passing outside the car, "it shows."
"What do you mean?"
"Ajax doesn't seem to own any weapons," Childe points out.
Zhongli chuckles softly, "perhaps they are not as common here as where you are from."
"That's not what I meant," Childe says through his teeth. "No weapons. No scars. A body that doesn't know how to fight. He's soft. Sheltered. I wouldn't know what that's like."
Zhongli mulls that over before he asks delicately, "your family was different?"
His question prompts a sardonic laugh from Childe, "no. Not at all. Doesn't seem like it, anyway."
Then what made the difference? "You of course do not have to explain if you don't wish to but I am curious why you are the one that is different, then."
"Something happened," Childe says, "when I was a kid. An accident. Let's just say it was life changing," he grins then but there's no humor in it. "Afterward, my family didn't really know what to do with me. I kept getting into fights, causing problems, that sort of thing. My father eventually took me to sign up for the military." Zhongli's lips turn down and Childe seems to anticipate the response so he interjects, "don't say you're sorry or anything. They weren't wrong. I ended up where I needed to be. Better to be serving the Tsaritsa than making a mess of my hometown."
"The Tsaritsa," Zhongli murmurs, "you are from Snezhnaya, then?"
Childe gives a start and his gaze becomes suddenly intent, "your world has a Snezhnaya?"
Zhongli nods, "Snezhnayans are not, however, commonly found here in Liyue. I should have guessed sooner from your family's name."
At that, he hears some sort of half-muffled helpless laughter from the other man before Childe says in an almost rueful tone, "next you're going to tell me you're actually this country's god."
Now why would he say that? "Is it not enough that I am an Immortal?" Zhongli asks, keeping his voice serene and even as he pulls into a parking place. "Here we are." He gestures to the building in front of them, a rather nondescript brick structure several stories tall with no signage to suggest its purpose save for a placard in the window proclaiming it had office space to rent.
Childe frowns up at the building, "looks nice."
Zhongli chuckles, "it looks boring, you mean. But that is how I prefer it. Please, follow me." He leads the way inside, past several business offices just as anonymous as the building itself, and to a single elevator at the end of it. Along the way, they pass a couple of people who nod politely to Zhongli but aren't shy about giving inquisitive looks to the young man following alongside him.
Once in the elevator, Childe leans against one of its walls as Zhongli presses the button for the basement. "So," he asks casually, "what sort of place is this then, anyway? Do those people work for you?"
"No," Zhongli says, "there are several businesses that rent space in this building. Most of what they do here is mainly paperwork and other office work of that ilk. I am given to understand that there are many who prefer inexpensive office space for tasks that do not require meeting customers face-to-face." The elevator comes to a halt and the doors slide open to reveal a small foyer area and a single door that he unlocks and pushes open to show Childe inside. "This space is for my use."
Beyond the door is a large open area bare of any adornment. On one wall to the left is another door that Zhongli bypasses and on the wall across from the entrance he has stored various weaponry—mostly swords—that he's collected over the years. Childe, his expression almost entranced, walks past him straight to the weapons without saying a word. After a few moments of gazing at them, he reaches out toward one of a pair of short swords and pauses just before his hand makes contact. "So…like…is this a look-don't-touch thing or can I see how this feels?"
Zhongli laughs, "be my guest."
The grin Childe gives him this time is a true one as he lifts one of the swords and admires its clean lines and the slight curve of its blade. "So what was that about a combat evaluation?"
Raising his eyebrows, Zhongli approaches Childe and reaches out to take up the matching short sword. "Why did you choose one of these?"
"I used to use two blades kind of like these a lot," Childe says. "But I could probably work with just about anything that has a blade."
"Hmmm. Why don't we see what you're like in hand-to-hand combat first?"
Childe makes a face, "trying to go easy on me?"
"You are the one who said your body doesn't know how to fight," Zhongli reminds him.
"Ugh," returning the sword to where he'd taken it from, Childe rolls his eyes. "Okay. Fine. Let's see how this goes. You might be surprised."
Zhongli returns his blade as well and then gestures for the younger man to follow him out into more open space. "I would be happy to see you try."
Childe takes a moment to stretch and shake out the tension in his muscles. Which is, Zhongli swiftly realizes when he bursts into motion a second later, something of a clever misdirection. Their sparring begins in earnest then with Childe displaying none of the hesitation or overthinking that might be found in a novice. His movements are, instead, swift and sure and it's only when his footwork or strikes appear to be not as precise as he may have been trying to make them that he shows a waver to his concentration. In frustration, he finally raises his hands and steps back. "This is the worst."
Zhongli frowns, "I thought you were doing rather well, all things considered."
"Don't get me wrong, I have nothing against training to get better but I was better and now I'm not and I kind of hate it."
"Ah." Instead of immediately providing any more substantive of an answer, Zhongli gestures for Childe to stay put and ducks in through the door he had bypassed on the way in. When he returns a moment later, it's with a couple of bottles of chilled water, one of which he hands to his guest. "Take a break," he advises, "and we will next see what you can do with a blade so we know what you must start with to regain your prior skill. You have an impressive foundation and you are young. I suspect you will make swift progress."
Something mirthful flickers in Childe's eyes, "how old did you say you were again?"
"I did not say," Zhongli informs him. "Consider it knowledge you will have to earn."
Childe lifts his water bottle in salute, "challenge accepted."
Notes:
When I first started this chapter I hadn't thought I was going to spend quite so much time with Ajax's family but once I got going it seemed suitable. And yes, thought his dad wasn't really mentioned here, he does exist. :)
Chapter 4: Bratty Sugar Baby
Summary:
Zhongli and Childe spar some more, then they go get Childe a new phone, some lunch, and they dig up a little more information who who "Ajax" really was.
"Your phone was broken but I would be surprised if the data on it can't be recovered. It is possible we will find the clues we need there. A contacts list, missed messages, that sort of thing."
"Ah-…okay, I'll take your word for it. Let's go do that, then. I kept it in my pocket. And while we're at it you can tell me other stuff I should know about this world."
Zhongli smiles faintly, "only if you tell me about yours in return."
"Deal," Childe says promptly, "and…maybe we can get something to eat somewhere in there? I kinda skipped breakfast."
Chuckling, Zhongli gives a nod, "immortal we may be but our bodies still disapprove of skipping meals..."
Notes:
(See the end of the chapter for notes.)
Chapter Text
After their break, Zhongli sends Childe to retrieve the short sword he had been admiring earlier while he seems to conjure his own personal blade when Childe's back is turned. Upon catching sight of the new addition, Childe tilts his head curiously, "to be honest, seeing you with a sword is kind of weird."
"What do you mean?" Zhongli glances down at the jian in his hand. "Does this other me you've mentioned not use one?"
Childe shrugs, "I only ever heard of him using spears. But considering his reputation, I'm sure he knows his way around a sword too. Never got to see it, personally. One of the most disappointing aspects to my visit to Liyue."
"You wanted him to fight you?"
Grinning crookedly with something like rue shading the expression, Childe nods, "you could say that was pretty much my entire motivation for going to Liyue and he couldn't even be bothered to acknowledge it." Then he shakes his head with a sharp motion. "Forget it. It doesn't matter anymore. Let's just do this."
"Very well," Zhongli agrees and their sparring begins anew.
Similar to before, Zhongli can see the obvious signs of Childe having prior experience and it being clear that that experience goes far beyond what one might expect of the young man known as Ajax here. He gives off the impression of being someone who'd been born with a weapon in his hands. Or that he himself was the weapon. Once he regains his prior fitness, he could be a terror if he so desired.
"Very well," the older Immortal says again when he calls for a stop. "You have proven that you can handle yourself if a headhunter comes calling."
Even though the signs are clear that the younger man's body is feeling the exertion it isn't used to—that won't be a problem soon enough—Childe's eyes are bright and his smile suggestive of some deep, visceral joy. "Glad we got that cleared up. Guess I still need to get myself a sword, though. Is there somewhere I can find a blacksmith?" He frowns, "or there's that sword from the guy last night I guess…do you still have it?"
"A blacksmith?" Zhongli's lips twitch in repressed amusement. "You make it sound…rather quaint, Childe. Good ones are not so easy to find in this day and age. But no, you do not want that other man's sword."
"Why not?"
Zhongli approaches him and holds his hand out to indicate Childe's borrowed short sword. "Your opponent's sword is longer, heavier, and thus balanced quite differently. While I now believe you could wield it with success…" he gives a small shrug, "it does not suit you. You would do better with the one you are holding at this time."
Childe's eyes widen and he looks down at the sword in question, "…but this is yours…?"
Smiling, Zhongli nods, "you are correct and thus it is in my purview to give it to whomever I wish. Consider it a long-term loan until you find your own sword, if you like."
"Well, alright then." Childe flashes him a pleased grin. "Thanks. I'll take good care of it."
"On that count I have no doubt," Zhongli assures him before he adds, "on another note, I imagine you will find it difficult to train in your family home. Perhaps we could arrange for you to come here, if you feel so inclined. Though," he frowns, "do you—or rather, does Ajax—have a job you must go to?"
Childe grimaces, "I'm not sure. I spent a while looking around his room some more this morning and couldn't find anything that jumped out at me, I guess. No uniforms or badges or anything that looked like something you might wear for work but it could be I just don't know what I'm looking for. I didn't think I could actually ask anyone in my family or they'd really start wondering what's wrong with me." He lets out a disgruntled huff, "why, do you have any suggestions?"
"Hmmm…" Zhongli taps his chin in thought. "That is a conundrum. We were planning to replace your phone, were we not?"
Looking bemused, Childe nods in response. "You said something about that last night. What good does that do?"
"Your phone was broken but I would be surprised if the data on it can't be recovered. It is possible we will find the clues we need there. A contacts list, missed messages, that sort of thing."
"Ah-…okay, I'll take your word for it. Let's go do that, then. I kept it in my pocket. And while we're at it you can tell me other stuff I should know about this world."
Zhongli smiles faintly, "only if you tell me about yours in return."
"Deal," Childe says promptly, "and…maybe we can get something to eat somewhere in there? I kinda skipped breakfast."
Chuckling, Zhongli gives a nod, "immortal we may be but our bodies still disapprove of skipping meals. Well, I know a repair shop we can visit for the first item and you will have to tell me the kinds of foods you like for us to find the other."
That gets a shrug in response, "I'm fine with anything. Though…" Childe's expression turns into a faint grimace, "I won't have to use chopsticks, will I?"
Zhongli eyes him and says in a carefully neutral tone, "it sounds to me like you might require some practice with them…"
"I've practiced!" Childe protests. "It's just…been a while. But if you're about to tell me they're 'the only way to properly appreciate Liyue's gastronomy' or something, I think I'll just have a sandwich."
"Why does it sound like that is something you've heard before?"
Childe scoffs and points at Zhongli. "Because you said it to me. The other you, I mean."
"I see," Zhongli's expression turns thoughtful, "I believe I know somewhere that will suit. Chopsticks will not be required." He ends his statement with a slight smile and gestures back toward the door. "Shall we?"
—
The technician at the phone repair shop makes quick work of recovering as much data as possible from Childe's phone and replicating it on a new one. Curiosity had prompted Childe to watch but much of what the man did was completely incomprehensible. When the technician tries to ask him what type of specifications he wants for his replacement phone, Zhongli smoothly cuts in and provides the answers. When Zhongli proceeds to pay, Childe notices a strange expression cross the technician's face, as if he'd suddenly found an answer to a question he'd been asking himself. The smirk he shoots Childe just makes him scowl. What is that about??
Apparently oblivious to that interaction, Zhongli hands Childe the bag containing the new phone and its various accessories while he nods toward the door. "The cafe is not far. I'll show you what you need to do with all of this there."
The technician's smirk only seems to grow and Childe feels a wave of heat rush through him. Snatching the bag from Zhongli he turns his back on the technician and stalks toward the door. "Fine. Let's go."
Behind him, the technician lets out a low whistle and says something that sounds like bratty sugar baby under his breath.
The words don't entirely make sense but Childe doesn't need to understand them to comprehend the insult. He stops in his tracks, spine stiffening, but before he can turn around Zhongli is already there pressing a hand to his back, gently directing him out the door. "Let it go," he murmurs.
Childe sucks in a breath through his teeth at Zhongli's touch, then nods with a jerk and lets himself be led outside. "What did that even mean?" He says irritably once the door closes behind them.
Zhongli shakes his head and seems to stifle a chuckle, "just someone with a misconception and a lack of decorum. Do not let it bother you, Childe."
"Hmph," he grumbles. "Fine. Whatever. How much do I owe you?"
"Owe?" Zhongli echoes, "nothing, Childe. Consider it a gift. Or if that will not suit…consider that it is a convenience for me as well if we are to keep in contact."
Childe takes a few moments to consider that before he nods, "thank you, then. I guess that wasn't very gracious of me but…" his laugh is humorless, "guess I'm still finding my footing."
"Mmm, I believe it will not take you long to reach some kind of balance. I'd say you seem to be doing remarkably well, all things considered." So saying, Zhongli opens the door to his chosen cafe and waves for Childe to precede him in.
Childe sighs in response and instead of making any sort of verbal comment, he takes the time to look around and then inhales appreciatively. "Smells good. Do we just go sit wherever?"
"Some establishments have waitstaff that will show you to a table but here it's acceptable to find your own seat," Zhongli explains and leads the way to a booth by the window.
"Not much different, then," Childe murmurs and slides into one of the seats, "something to be said for that."
As they get settled, a waitress greets them and gives them both a glass of water and a menu, promising to return in a few minutes to take their orders. Childe scans the menu but it's not long before he settles on something that seems appetizing. Decision made, he takes out the new phone and shows it to Zhongli. "So, what do I do with this?"
Zhongli's lips twitch, "not wasting any time, I see."
"Feels like I've got a lot to get up to speed on," Childe retorts, expression wry.
"Hmm," Zhongli regards him a moment then has to nod in agreement, "I suppose you are correct. Well," he gestures for Childe to set the device on the table between them, then presses a button on its side to bring it to life. "For the moment, it doesn't have anything that limits access but we should configure it with a passkey or we can have it unlock by facial recognition."
Childe blinks and tries to parse that. I guess that makes sense…if it has private information on it, obviously I won't want just anyone to be able to see it. And…facial recognition? I guess it has a lens like on one of those Fontainian gardemeks? "Okay. You want to start with that?"
Zhongli shakes his head, "I will show you the phone's functions first. It can do quite a lot more than just allow you to speak to others over long distances…"
In the midst of his explanation, the waitress returns and takes their orders before bustling away again. Picking up where he left off, Zhongli nudges the phone back toward Childe. "Give it a try, it appears you have some missed messages. I will not look at them in case they are private."
Raising his eyebrow in sardonic fashion, Childe takes the phone and snorts. "It's not my privacy you'd be intruding on…" He taps the icon with a red notification dot signifying unread messages and looks inquisitive interest at the list of names that appears. Under each name is a brief excerpt of the most recent message. "Convenient," he mutters to himself. The top entry shows missed messages sent by Tonia the day before with varying levels of hysteria between the time he'd finished his call to her and, he assumes, whenever Zhongli had managed to let them know Childe was on his way home. Below Tonia's entry is someone's name he doesn't recognize. When he taps it open, he frowns as he reads then reads again.
Hey, I know you never look at the noticeboard in the student union but you really should check this out. A guest lecturer from Snezhnaya? You've heard of her, right? Seems up your alley.
Just below the message is an attached image of a picture taken of a poster tacked to a wall and on that…Childe squints and raises the phone a little as if he could make out the details that way.
Zhongli, watching him, asks, "what is the matter?"
"Somebody sent me a picture," Childe turns the phone to show him, "but I don't know how they expect me to get anything out of it."
"That's a thumbnail," Zhongli replies, "tap it to make it bigger."
"Ah," Childe does as he's told and the image expands to fill the phone's full screen bringing the poster into focus. As the message indicates, it's a notification of an expert in ancient Snezhnayan antiquities coming to Liyue University for a lecture series open to all students. But it's not that information that has him staring. Instead, it's the speaker's image that does that. The clothes are unfamiliar, as is the setting, but he'd recognize that regal profile anywhere, can still imagine her looking down at him coolly from atop her throne.
Her Majesty…
From across the table, Zhongli frowns. "Childe?"
"Huh?" Childe asks vaguely before he shakes himself out of it and focuses on the man looking at him in something like concerned bemusement. "Oh. Sorry. I just…didn't expect…"
With impeccable timing, their waitress arrives with their meals and Childe sets the phone down on the table in order to accept his plate of french toast, flashing her a smile of thanks.
Zhongli politely thanks her as well and assures her they don't need anything else at present before he lets his gaze turn to the phone's display. "Ah," he says as his expression shutters, "you know her?"
Childe looks up at him, then down at the phone. "I…guess? I mean, not her but…"
Reaching out for the phone, Zhongli pauses and waits for Childe's nod of assent before he picks the device up and peers at the poster more closely. "Stasya Feodorovna," he reads, "renowned scholar and lecturer coming to the university in a few days. The lecture series is open to students only." He looks up at Childe. "I suppose that answers at least one of our questions about what Ajax does when he's not out riding his motorcycle at high speed on dangerous roads."
Childe pauses halfway through chewing his food then swallows and shakes his head with a short bark of laughter. "Me? A student? Yeah, right." Even if things had gone differently, before, there was no way I'd have gone to a school like that. I'd probably have followed in Dad's footsteps. We couldn't have afforded to send me-…wait. Why are we in Liyue here then?
"Not you," Zhongli points out in a gentle tone, "Ajax. You said he has had a different path in life, no? Perhaps this is an extension of that."
"I guess," Childe says moodily and retrieves his phone to examine the poster of the Tsaritsa…no, Stasya Feodorovna, he reminds himself. "Still can't imagine going to university, even if the accident hadn't happened. My family couldn't have afforded it." He laughs again, "and I don't know if it's worth asking how we went from a small fishing village in Snezhnaya to having a house in Liyue Harbor. I don't even know how I'd ask that without sounding crazy to them."
Zhongli studies him in thoughtful silence for several moments. "Perhaps I can be the one to ask, then, if that will help. But first, if you will indulge my curiosity…what is this Stasya like where you come from? She seems to have made quite an impression on you."
"She's the Tsaritsa," Childe says simply. "I pledged my life to her."
Almost too quickly for Childe to see, an uneasy expression flickers in Zhongli's gaze. "I see. Well, this world's Snezhnaya has long been without either a Tsar or Tsaritsa…it is, instead, rather democratic. But…now that we have learned more about Ajax, perhaps we will find more clues with a little more work."
"I guess," Childe's tone is dubious, but he sets the phone down again in favor of focusing on his meal. "There are other messages I haven't looked at." Remembering the name he hadn't recognized, he frowns, "Aether isn't a Liyuean name, is it?"
"No," Zhongli shakes his head, "why?"
"That's who sent the message but I don't know anyone by that name."
"Perhaps they're a classmate," Zhongli offers. "If they are sending you information about a university event, it stands to reason, does it not?"
"Yeah," Childe nods, "makes sense."
As if by some unspoken mutual agreement, their conversation pauses for both to finish their meals and it's only after their waitress brings them a pot of tea at his request that Zhongli broaches the topic anew. "What was she like? Your Tsaritsa?"
"Uhm…" Childe looks up from stirring sugar into his tea, "it's not like we were friends, you know. She's a god."
Zhongli tilts his head and seems to be resisting giving a disapproving look to how much sugar Childe's adulterated his tea with, "a god? As in…a truly divine being?"
"Yeah. The Cryo Archon. In addition to ruling Snezhnaya, she has absolute authority over the cryo element."
Zhongli nods then as if Childe were imparting simple, everyday information, "you say you served her but did you not also mention something about using a different element…hydro?"
Childe shrugs, "guess she didn't want to give me a cryo Vision." Or Delusion for that matter. "Actually, nobody's really sure how people get Visions. Except the archons, I guess."
"What are Visions?" Zhongli peers at him from over his cup of tea, interest evident in his gaze.
"They're…" Childe holds out his hand, fingers spread as if to grasp something in them, "about this big. They look like glowing jewels, I guess. They're like…magical foci for using the elements. Not just anyone can get one. They say if a mortal has earned the favor of the gods, they might be given one." He smirks, "maybe the Hydro Archon got the jump on giving one to me before the Tsaritsa could send me a cryo one." Seems unlikely but who am I to question Her Majesty? "Anyway…I guess I'll see what else I can find on this thing." He drops his hand to indicate the phone.
"Yes," Zhongli sips his tea, "if your texts do not provide better information, you should see if you have pertinent emails to read. Or there may be documents saved that will help."
Email? Oh yeah, he mentioned that earlier when he was explaining stuff. Like those text messages but…not.
Childe sinks into exploring the information he finds on the phone, quickly gaining proficiency with scrolling past things that don't seem to be of interest and honing in on things that do. This Aether is definitely a classmate. Or…friend? Seems like a friend.
Moving past the messages, he opens up an icon labeled "Photos" to be met with a gallery of images, as expected. Fascinated, he scrolls past pictures of his family, a picture of the now-wrecked motorcycle when it was brand new and gleaming, and among all of that places and people he doesn't recognize. Except…
…wait. Is that…?
Scrolling back up, he taps on the image that had caught his eye. Someone—Ajax, he has to assume—had snapped it just in time to catch an oddly familiar figure with long, braided, blond hair turning to face the camera. "Traveler?" he mutters.
"Someone else you know?" Zhongli's voice interrupts his thoughts.
"Maybe. A friend. Though," Childe's smile is a little crooked, "I'm not sure he always would have called me that. Still, we got along well enough all things considered. Last time I saw him, I-…" Childe frowns and shakes his head as a disjointed memory of seeing the Traveler next to a tall man in blue robes—that Iudex—flashes past his mind's eye. That image is blurry, out of focus, like he hadn't had time to get a clear look before…Ugh. What was it? Why can't I remember?
"An unfortunate memory?" Zhongli asks after he lets the silence between them stretch.
"No. Uh. I don't think so? I'm not sure. I can't-…" Childe shakes his head again, frustrated, "it's not a bad one if I can't really remember it, right? Maybe…I don't know. I think whatever that was, it must have been right before I ended up here. Maybe that's why it's hard to remember. Does that make sense?"
"You are as much of an authority on this subject as I am," Zhongli says gravely. "Which is to say, we are both learning it as we go. For now we can proceed under that assumption if you like. But," he reaches out to place a hand over Childe's, "you don't have to force the memory to come. It may take time."
His hand is warm, still…why do I keep noticing that?? "Yeah, okay," is all Childe says in response. "You've got a point. Anyway, what do we do next?"
Zhongli gives him a faint smile and takes his hand away. Childe tries not to miss the sensation too much. "Well, we have had our spar. You have a sword, a phone, and new information. And likely also an impatient mother wondering why your doctor's appointment has taken so long. I should take you back. We can plan for our next meeting and your training and…I imagine you will want to do what Ajax might do for the time being. Without your motorcycle, you will have to find some other method of getting to your classes. Though, hmm…Hu Tao did only say her friend would keep it a few days. You will have to decide what to do about that."
"Sounds like I've still got a lot to do."
"Indeed," Zhongli agrees, "and…do you think you will go to this lecture your friend told you about?"
Will I? She's the Tsaritsa…well. Sort of. It feels weird not to go. "Maybe?"
The other man sighs, "then there is something you should know before you go…"
Notes:
It's here! Finally! Some notes:
1. In another fic, the name I gave the Tsaritsa was the demon name I thought would suit her (Sitri), here I have based her name off the name Hoyo seems to have given her (Anastasya Feodorovna Snezhnaya) according to Columbina's drip marketing.
2. Yes, the way Childe describes how Visions are given out isn't actually how they're given out but he doesn't know that. So his version is more like what the average person thinks happens.
3. Childe doesn't recognize Aether's name because in canon, he isn't called that by anyone except his sibling so it's not a name Childe would know.
LizUwu on Chapter 1 Thu 24 Apr 2025 09:56AM UTC
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teashaped_tangerine on Chapter 1 Sat 26 Apr 2025 02:16PM UTC
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teashaped_tangerine on Chapter 1 Sat 26 Apr 2025 07:33PM UTC
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teashaped_tangerine on Chapter 2 Thu 08 May 2025 08:26PM UTC
Last Edited Thu 08 May 2025 08:27PM UTC
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