[COMPLETE]Memories of Soothing Water

Chapter X

Authors note: so I have another tartali fanfic idea but the thing is that I feel like the best course of action would be to finish this one first and then write the other but my impatient side says to do them together
•

Trigger warnings: subtle suggestive content at the start but not too much because the author is a wimp, family issues, c///d a///se

Proceed with caution!

Dawn embedded the coast of Liyue Harbor as a large ship docked on the wharf, its bridge lowering down to allow access to the dockyard.

"I'm back, Liyue!"
The ginger-haired man gleefully walked down the bridge, the cool breeze tenderly brushing against his freckled face. He was more than ecstatic to be back to Liyue. It was his lover's home after all, and he missed the honey-coated voice of the man.
The male waved goodbye to the ship he was once on and strolled the docks, listening to the lapping waters and looking at the fiery red sun, which was now setting. It was quite romantic, the scenery was immensely attractive, enough to overwhelm one's senses. (Childe being one of them.)
He recalled his first experience in the country, his eyes were almost blinded by the bright, colourful architecture-which in the sunset, made it more bright and eye-catching.

A gentle knock reverberated around the living room of the house, which awakened Zhongli from his half-sleeping state.
He moved towards the door with half-lidded eyes, wondering who in Liyue would wake him up at such a late hour.
'I swear even Hu Tao even should be asleep by now..'
He unlocked the door to be met with glowing tidal eyes, enough to engulf him into the ocean.
"Xiansheng!"
Childe hurled his weight into Zhongli's, feeling his warm embrace once again after a long month of him being in Shezenaya.
Zhongli returned the pleasant gesture, he was finally at rest after the ginger man's arrival.
"Did you miss me, Mr Zhongli?" he smirked.
Zhongli let out a long yawn before continuing-he was tired and sleepy, after all.
"Mmph.. I did, but may I suggest that we sleep now? You did wake me up abruptly from a peaceful slumber."
Childe nodded and apologised to the latter for having to disturb his rest, trying not to giggle at how formal he sounded in front of Zhongli.
"May I accompany you to your sleeping quarters?" he asked politely, but his sly gaze had other ideas.
Zhongli was too exhausted to refuse and let the other man take him to their room.
"How long did you work today?" he asked the brunette, resting him on the soft silk sheets.
Zhongli would never classify himself as some who overworked, but he too had times where the assignment was left till the last minute-in which he had to take an overnight shift to finish since Hu Tao was strict on them.
"A little more than I should have, but it's fine."
He sighed and almost fell asleep on the spot, but his body forced him to stay awake a little longer.
Childe leaned closer to Zhongli, his lips touching the latter's as he softly kissed him.
Zhongli was slightly stunned at the gesture, but accepted the kiss.
He took a strand of the delicate locks on the other male's hair and played with it, grinning subtly, he shifted downwards.
"You wouldn't mind sleeping a little later, would you?" he whispered.
"I guess.. Wait what?"

Unfortunately, they both only got a few hours of sleep before having to wake up again and start their daily duties. (If you call three hours of sleep a proper rest that is.)
Childe, being as inactive as he was, attempted to persuade Zhongli to let him get a few more hours to snooze, making up ridiculous excuses and a pleading expression.
"Zhongli~! I am quite exhausted from what we did, can I please get a little rest?" He implored like a little child.
"I was the one who endured it, not you." The man once again spoke the truth, leaving Childe with no more alibis to justify his urge to take a nap.
He submitted to defeat and sat on the bed, letting out an audible yawn to signify his well-earned rest going to ruin.
"Say Xiansheng, you're not more different than Tonia or my mother, always waking me up at absurd hours of the day for no reason!" He chuckled.
"At least they know the importance of waking up early." He scoffed at Childe, trying to sound disappointed with him.
"Talking about family, how's yours?" he asked Zhongli.
Childe never had even the slightest idea of Zhongli's background, all he knew was that the old man never discussed the topic, not even as much as a whisper or a rumour, it was like he shut off all mentions of his family.
The ginger man was curious, always wanting to know more about his lover, even if he knew most of his past -and even future- he'd always persist Zhongli for the little tidbits of information about anything.
"That question is quite complicated to answer, for I don't even know most of my past." He shifted uncomfortably but hid it from Childe.
Childe made a questioning face.
'Who doesn't remember their childhood?'
Childe put those queries on the back of his mind and enthusiastically explained his time in Snezhnaya, (aside from slaughtering and causing mass genocide, Childe also surprisingly has a family life.)
"My mother is quite fond of you, she gets all scary when she assumes I do anything wrong to you.." He smiled with a nervous expression-who knows what happened when his mother misunderstood his intentions.
Zhongli snickered and visualized the circumstance of what ensued.
"It's not very amusing when your mother lectures you for something you didn't do!" he scorned, remiscing the unfortunate situation.
After a few moments, Childe broke the ice.
"Xiansheng, where is your family?" he inquired the man.
Zhongli clenched his fists.
"...Xiansheng?" he stepped over to the brunette and gently cupped his cheeks to face up to him.
"There is only so much I can confide in."
Childs glowed warmly, comforting his lover to let him know that it was fine.
——————
"How will you be strong if you shiver at the very sight of me, Rex Lapis?"

He shuddered at the very sight of his voice.
The young brunette was heavily bruised, his body trembling in fear and anguish, the scars and cuts throbbing in his skin.
Tears were falling down his chin, blood mixing in where he was striked.
He was barely able to stand up, but had to as he was scared of disobeying orders.
A hand abruptly took Rex Lapis's neck and strangled it, leaving the young boy defenceless and unable to breathe.
"Do you really think that you can be an Archon with this strength? You're so vulnerable, it's quite saddening that such a fine man could be like this."
His eyes were like knives jabbing into the brunette, making him realise that he was outweighed.
"I can't be seen training the likes of you!" his voice rang around the room, deafening young Rex Lapis's ears.
"S-sorry.." he quivered.
His forgiveness was repayed with another knock out.
•
"Rex, why are you bruised?" a soft hum echoed in the garden.
The young boy put his head down in shame, reluctant to respond.
"It's me, Guizhong, you can confide in me.. Right?" she asked, her voice gentle, like a glaze lily.
Rex Lapis glanced at the girl in front of him, her baby blue eyes ensuring comfort and safety.
"Him again."
"The one that was secured to take care of you?" She quered.
The brunette nodded his head.
"Come with me, I'll heal you."  she took his aching hands and guided him to a meadow with a fascinating scenery, it was almost identical to a wonderland, closed off by a gate that was made of adeptal crystals, its energy protecting the realm.
"Lend me your hand." she requested to Rex Lapis, holding out her own to take his.
He gradually placed his fingers in Guizhong's own and allowed her to do the task.
"Maybe I'll have to do your whole body, don't worry! I won't peek..."
—————
Childs gulped, he never expected Zhongli's childhood to be so dark.
"That Guizhong, she was a great person.. Did the man get any karma?" He asked.
"Guizhong..She informed the higher adepti and they swiftly handled the problem. As for me, I lived a loner for most of my adolescence."
Childs pulled the man into a packed hug, sympathising with his past and forgiving for asking a sensitive topic.
Zhongli reassured the ginger male that no harm was caused and he was fine, (in which Childe kept forgiving still since he thought he'd mistreated Zhongli.)
"It is getting quite late, maybe we should eat."
He suggested.
"But I wanna hug you for a little longer..."
Childe whined, having just accustomed to the warmth.
—————
"Zhongli! Wake up~! It's time for work!"
A stubborn, sneaky yell woke Zhongli from his sleep.
"Hu Tao, this is my break hour." the brunette motioned to the clock, making out the consultant's break time the director organized.
"Well, you received some mail, so I shouted at you so you could open it.."
Zhongli facepalmed in discontent and seized the pale and crinkly letter.
He began to read the passages in the letter.

To: Zhongli from the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor.

From: Shneznaya.

Salutations, Tonia writing this.
We have heard the news of brother Childe passing away a few weeks ago. Mother said to compose a letter for you since she thinks you miss him a lot. She also stated that you two had a 'special relationship'. (I don't know what she means by that?)
Anyways, me, Anthon, Teucer and Mother all grieve for brother Childe and I know you do too, but since you are not in Shneznaya, she told me to give a parcel as a gift she wanted to give you.
Mother said that this is a scarf that brother Childe used to wear here since it reminded him of you. (her words not mine!)
So, with this letter, you should also receive a parcel with the contents inside. If you write back, please do tell us about your 'special relationship' with Childe.

Sincerely:
Tonia (sorry for the bad English, only Childe knew how to write and speak English well.)

A heavy slam of a door terrified Zhongli after he finished reading the message.
"Here is the parcel that arrived with the note!" Hu Tao gleefully rested the light package on the consultant's table.
Zhongli thanked the girl half-mindedly as he made haste to unwrap the box.
Hu Tao gazed at the man as he promptly unfolded the package, revealing an intricate wine-red scarf.
At first glance, it looked like Childe's everyday scarf, but this one had a different feeling.
"Are you going to wear it?" the director smirked.
Zhongli pressed his nose against the soft, silk material of the item, and glimmered.
Hu Tao stared at the man blankly.
"Now don't go on and on about how the scarf makes you fee-"
"This material is so soft, I feel like only the finest silk was put into it..."
The young girl groaned and slammed her head on the desk.

My day be so fine, then BOOM ANOTHER CHAPTER OF THIS FANFIC
Continuing author notes at the top I have to say that if you want the basic info on the fanfic then imagine this fan fiction but instead it's Zhongli and he's alive but he's also gonna die so yea

Fluff? What's that lmao