Chapter Text
Zhongli was standing in his kitchen. A vegetable knife in his hand, left midair, not moving to cut anything that was on the cutting board. It seemed like he was lost in his thoughts.
Today he was asked out. His business partner (the one that he has been infatuated with for the longest time) took him out on a date. They spent their time at a very romantic and exquisite restaurant. His partner even offered to pay the bill. And now, long after today‘s events, he is at his home, preparing to meet him again.
Some might say meeting two times in a day is too much, but this time it's even more special. Because his partner will be meeting someone very significant. Someone that is a big part of Zhongli‘s life and will also become a big part of his lovely companion‘s life too.
His daydreaming is interrupted by a voice he knows all too well.
“Dad, why are you preparing this much food? It‘s a bit unusual...”
“Hello to you too. Someone very important is coming over today, so I‘m making the dinner a bit more special.” He answered, looking back at Xiao.
“Is it a business partner?” he asks right away.
“Yes, but there is a bit more to it. I‘ll explain everything during dinner. You just have to be a bit more patient and-” Their conversation is stopped abruptly by a knock on the door. Knowing exactly who it is Zhongli smiles and then speaks again.
“This is likely our guest. Could you open the door for me? I have yet to finish preparing the table.”
The boy nods and leaves without another word.
Xiao stared at the man in front. Was this person really his father’s business partner? He was young, lean and way too tall. He had a baby face which unlike his father’s, didn’t show any experience at all. This couldn’t be him, right? It just didn’t feel right. Maybe this was just a random person that got the wrong house. He decided to eventually say something and see who this person actually is.
“Who are you?“
“Where is Zhongli?”
Different questions were uttered by both men at the same time.
“Oh, you know my father?” So, he really is his business partner Xiao thought.
“Father? That’s interesting. He never told me he had a son.” The strange man voiced his toughts.
“If he didn’t mention it then it was unnecessary. Now let’s go, he is most likely already waiting for us.” He departs, not letting the conversation continue. Leaving the man to follow him farther into the apartment.
They both arrive to see Zhongli standing at the table, waiting for them with a smile on his face. The man who was following Xiao also beams at seeing Zhongli. A grin that seems way to friendly for his taste. As they sit down Zhongli begins the conversation.
“Childe, this is Xiao, my son. I apologize for not introducing him to you sooner, but I hope that the two of you will get along.” he changes his focus to Xiao. “This is Childe, my business partner that I was talking about before and-”
“And his boyfriend.” The so-called Childe interrupts him. His cocky grin plastered over his face. Xiao couldn’t decide if he is mocking him with that smile or if it’s just his usual face expression.
“Boyfriend?..” he asked.
“Yes, you heard right, boyfriend.” That cocky voice answers again. “Let's get along!” He continued, the grin not once leaving his face. His voice thought. That was a different matter. For some reason Xiao didn’t like it. No. It wasn’t just the voice, he just didn’t like Childe at all.
Xiao sits in silence, collecting his thoughts. He doesn't like that man one bit. He's too strange for his liking, and the way he speaks, it just irritates him. After what feels like an eternity he looks at his father.
“Congratulations. I'm happy for you.” As he utters this he stands up and withdraws to his room.
The room is silent. The look of sorrow overtaking Zhongli's face is berely noticible, but it's still there. It makes Childe clench his fists. He’s not sure what’s the problem with that kid, but he will fix it. He faces Zhongli and beams, trying to lighten up the mood.
“Look, don't worry about this. He'll warm up to me in no time. If it'll make you feel better, I'll go talk to him right now. You know me, right? I'll talk to him and then everything will be just fine. Trust me.”
The older man sighs. “You’re right. I know he will warm up to you. But still, it was stupid of me to just drop the news on him… As his father I should have known better.” His voice sounds dejected, as he carries a sorrowful smile on his face.
Childe looks him in the eyes, reassuring grin not leaving his face. “Don’t be so hard on yourself, everything is going to be just fine. Look, you stay here, and I’ll be back with him in no time.”
He stands up, just to realize he has no idea where to go. “So, um, where did you say his room was again?”
“It’s the second room in the corridor to your right.”
“Got it, thanks! Be right back!”
Childe was standing in front of the boy‘s room. It was strangely silent, but he brushed it off and knocked on the door. Nothing. Just even more silence.
A second knock comes. But no response is given.
“Hey, I know you‘re there, don‘t ignore me! I just want to talk.” He voices desperately.
He hears some shuffling and the door is opened a minute later.
“Oh, you opened! Look, I’ll get straight to the point. I’m sorry, I know I sounded like an ass, but could we please get along? For your dad? I know that this might be sudden for you, but I’m not a bad guy, you have absolutely nothing to worry about.” The words fell out of his mouth in an instant.
“No.” A simple and short answer was heard
“No? What? Why? Don’t you want to make your dad happy?” Childe was frantic, it felt like all his communication skills had disappeared. Why is this kid so stubborn? It’s not like he did anything wrong. What could he have done to dissatisfy him?
“I don’t trust you. A business partner as a boyfriend? Seems too sketchy for me.” He answered glaring at the man before him.
Confusion seeps through Childe. What does he mean by Sketchy? It’s not like he’s with Zhongli for-
*Thud*
Something falls. And that something is very heavy. Way too heavy to just be knocked over by the wind.
It makes him finally notice the boy’s appearance. He is strangely disheveled and there’s a scarf on his neck that wasn’t there before. Possibly hiding something that shouldn’t be there. The realization hits him. *There is someone else in that room.*
It makes sense. The scarf. The messy hair. The suspicious silence. The time it took him to open the door.
And even if he is wrong and there is no one there. Well, It’ll work out somehow.
Without waiting any further, he pushes Xiao away from the door. Even though the boy protest, he still opens it. What he sees, is a surprised familiar face that he knows very well.
“Lumine?”
“Childe?”
This brings a smile to Childe’s face. An opportunity just presented itself and he is definitely going to make some use of it. “Oh, Lumine, how would your dear brother react if he saw you in a stranger's room?”
The girl is frozen on the spot. She looks like a five-year old that just got caught stealing candy and is now dealing with the consequences of it. “He isn’t a stranger, he’s my...” at this she turns silent. Her eyebrows furrow as she looks at Childe. “he’s my boyfriend, okay. Oh god, please don’t tell Aether about this, I don’t want him to use that stupid broom of his again.” An annoyed look is sent Childe’s way as she finishes that sentence.
Looking at Lumine from behind the ginger man, Xiao exhales. “The two of you, you know eachother?”
Lumine nods. “He’s one of my brother’s friends, they used to spar together every week before Aether left for Mondstadt.”
Xiao steps in the room, closing the door behind him. He puts his gaze on Lumine but his question is directed at Childe. “What will you do, now that you know about us?”
The ginger smirks.
“Oh, nothing much, but I have a deal for you that you wouldn’t like to refuse.”