DUTY | 𝗔 Chili 𝗳𝗮𝗻𝗳𝗶𝗰 | GENSHIN IMPACT

9. Go out with me

"Zhongli, go out with me."

...

Zhongli stared into Childe's azure eyes, which were usually lit with the flames of passion. However, this was not the case. Instead of an intimidating, determined young man with many dreams, all Zhongli could see was the cloudy, dull eyes of a heartbroken child. 

This was not the face of a man who had just asked his crush out. 

Zhongli hesitated, taking a step back, his own expression morphing to one of trouble and  confusion. 

..

"No."

Childe's eyes crinkled in shock, his eyebrows creasing inwards. Instead of looking up at Zhongli, he looked even further down. His long eyelashes now covering his pained orbs of dull blue. Zhongli felt a pang in his heart at Childe's state, and he knew that he was the cause.

"Zhongli, I love you.."

Zhongli clenched his fists.

"No you don't. I don't know what that Signora woman told you, but I won't let it influence your true feelings."

Zhongli stood up and began to walk out of the restaurant.

"ZHONGLI!" Childe yelled, his eyes welling up and his hands clenched tightly. "I'll.. I'LL MAKE SURE YOU LIKE ME BACK!" 

Zhongli didn't turn around. His shoulders shook heavily as he took a deep breath, before speaking in a shaky voice.

"Childe, go home. Please."

---

It had been over a week since Zhongli had last seen Childe, since Childe's confession, if you could even call it that. Zhongli had been constantly bothered by Childe's words, and how disheartened he sounded. Could you even call that a confession? Zhongli felt as if he had been trampled on. No one should sound that depressed while confessing their love to someone, so was Childe just lying? Did he really have an ulterior motive after all? 

Zhongli had realised Childe's real identity. A member of the Fatui. In fact, Zhongli had suspected it the moment Childe interacted with those Fatui recruits back during their time at Wuwang Hill, But he had ignored the signs, desperately hoping that his suspicion was incorrect. 

RINGG- RINGG! RIING-RINNGGG!

The alarm on Zhongli's side table wailed discordantly, indicating that it was time for the male to wake up, however, if the clock was alive, it would be surprised to lean that Zhongli hadn't slept at all in the first place.

Zhongli wearily stood up, leaving the comfort of his bed, heading to his closet. Swinging it open, the robes he had bought with Childe caught the corner of his eye. Clenching his fists, Zhongli covered the robes with his usual clothes, refusing to look at them. 

Zhongli left his house, peering out at the bright blue sky, contrasting his gloomy mood greatly. Zhongli felt as if he was walking upstream against the sea of bustling, happy people of Liyue, being the only sad soul in the whole harbour. 

The male quietly entered his office at Wangsheng Funeral Parlor without greeting neither the ferry-lady, nor his boss, Hu Tao. He plopped down into his chair, head in hands, as he closed his eyes, remembering the first time he had met Childe. 

He remembered it very, very vividly, as if it had happened yesterday, or as if it was happening right now..

"Mr. Zhongli? Zhongli?"

Zhongli felt the warmth of two familiar gloved hands cupping his cheeks, his eyes fluttering open to greet the familiar sight of--

Hu Tao.

"Wha-" 

Zhongli stuttered, swatting her hands away. 

"Oho- Sorry Zhongli~ Were you expecting someone else?" 

Zhongli turned his head away stubbornly.

"Awh, c'mon! You seem totally out of it, how about we grab a bite again like last time?" Hu Tao suggested, despite not having Zhongli's attention, "I'd have to withdraw some money from the bank though--"

To Zhongli, Hu Tao's words were simply a bunch of incoherent muttering--

Wait, bank?

If Childe is part of the Fatui, surely he must have some connection to Northland Bank? 

Zhongli stood up, heading past Hu Tao to the front door of the funeral parlor.

"Wait- Zhongli! It isn't lunch break ye-"

Slam.

The front door slammed shut behind Zhongli, as he hailed a cab.

"Where to?'' The driver asked, before turning around to look at Zhongli, then making a face of disgust. 

"Northland Bank, please." 

The driver let out an exaggerated sigh before starting the car.

---

"Alright mate, that'll be 700 Mora." He spat skeptically.

Zhongli smirked, dropping a pouch of mora into the driver's hands, then heading up the stairs to Northland Bank, leaving the driver stunned.

"Alright man, I dont have time today so hurry up and pay-- He paid? ZHONGLI paid? I must be dreaming..'

Zhongli quickly pulled at the doors of Northland Bank, entering abruptly, then fixing his posture as he confidently walked to the accountant.

"Welcome to Northland Bank, how may I help you?"

"I'm.. looking for a man named Childe."

The woman raised her eyebrows.

"Lord Childe is busy at the moment, I'm not sure I can reveal his whereabouts to an absolute stranger."

Lord?

Zhongli sighed.

"It's quite urgent, as his... partner, I demand to know where he is."

The woman scoffed.

"Partner? Some partner you are, not even knowing that your 'partner' is at the top of Mt. Hulao doing who knows WHAT-- WaIT-"

A smirk found its way onto Zhongli's face, as he began to walk away from the desk.

"Wait, at least tell me why you need to see him!" The woman desperately cried, as she gestured for the bank guards to follow Zhongli.

Zhongli stopped walking, turning around to look at the woman, a sad smile creeping up on his face.

"He... owes me 700 mora."

T.B.C.

--

Word count: 903

a/n 

the first part of this literally hurt my soul to write 😭 

next special chapter at 700 views, btw 😉