Your old boots with a fur

"Every journey has its final day. Don't rush"

Chilly wind coming from the sea was almost identical to the one in his beloved village, back home. Autumn in Liuye couldn't possibly rival the cold winter of Snezhnaya but if he closed his eyes he could imagine being back, standing right next to his dear house. Sounds of people living their busy lives, trying to get by, the taste of his favorite dish, and the distinct smell of sheer cold would disappear as soon as the breeze flew by. The feeling of the familiar cold was replaced by warm rays of the sun, hitting his freckled face. A new set of imagines would flood his mind, rather than leaving it empty. Instead of familiarity of his home, he remembered beautiful spots he has visited so far, tasty dishes he had tasted, warm embraces, and long nights shared with special someone. The feeling of homesickness was very powerful, but it was being soothed by a pleasant company of Geo Archon himself.

Childe knew that the day that of his departure from the land of contracts was approaching rapidly, yet he didn't rush. Zhongli often said that every journey would come to an end, probably hinting that their time together would end soon, yet they should enjoy every moment as long as they could. That being said, he did not expect his visit to be ended so abruptly.

It was a day as every other has been so far. He has awoken in his bed, in a high-end hotel that has been rented by Fatui for the duration of his stay. After getting ready and completing some errands he had made his way to Wanmin Restaurant. There, just like days prior, he met up with Zhongli to, yet again, eat breakfast together. After that, both men would part ways and get lost in their work. That particular day, he had to visit some people and "talk" about their debts to her majesty. Then he got back to Liuye to yet again eat with Zhongli and then visit some of the more unpopular tourist spots that even if lacked in popularity did not lack in history. Zhongli would go on about battles that he fought and stories of bygone times. Said stories were as charming as a storyteller if Childe could say so himself. After spending a couple hours together, two would yet again part ways to return to the last of their tasks for the day, and then hopefully meet the next day to complete that routine yet again.

But both of them did not know that their routine would be disturbed by someone that has been following the Hrabringer all day.

After making his way back to his assigned room, Childe couldn't even properly look at the rest of the paperwork that he had to fill in when his door burst open.

Many emotions run through his head, but he didn't even hesitate to draw his weapon, ready to defend himself and possibly conquer, yet another foe. But, to his surprise, in the door frame stood none other than his fellow Harbinger, Scaramouche.

He didn't even have a chance to form a proper question in his mind when the other Harbinger screamed.

"TARTAGLIA! DID YOU SLEEP WITH GEO ARCHON?!"

Out of the questions he was ready to respond to, this wasn't one of them. All of the memories of the past few weeks flew in his head like a speed-up slideshow. Every tender moment he shared with that odd, yet interesting man. Every meal they have eaten together, every place they have visited, every night they spend in each other embraces, and every morning they woke up having one another by their sides. All those moments condensed into one question that was being shouted at him, not even by anyone close to him. At that moment he wanted to say, proudly that yes, he and Zhongli shared a special bond, yet those words did not leave his mouth. Instead, all he managed to say was simple:

'What?'

His baffled response did not satisfy the other man, causing him to continue.

'Did you sleep with Geo Archon?!'Scaramouche shouted getting dangerously close to the taller man

'Morax?' Childe responded without even thinking

'Morax.'

In that moment Ajax had decided to put aside his pride and protect Zhongli's status as a god as well as he could. Yet, he knew that most likely it all would be in vain.

'NO, I DID NOT!' He shouted with the most convincing scream he could

But Balladeer already had his mind made up.

"YES, YOU DID!'

'NO, I DID NOT!"

Scaramouche laughed like a maniac. He looked straight into Tartaglia's eyes and said

'Tartaglia you little slut!"

The screaming match ensued after that. It was hard to make up any words as two harbingers tried to be louder than the other. Chide still being set on protecting Zhongli, tried to deflect all accusations, Scaramouche on the other hand threw all insults he had in his vocabulary to express how disgusted he felt.

Suddenly, after being fed up with younger Harbinger, Scaramouche hit Tartaglia across the face sending him a few steps back.

'I WAS TRYING TO GATHER INFORMATION!' Childe screamed, knowing that his lies would not fool the other man. The admiration for Zhongli was written all over his face. Every fiber of his being showed that he was set on protecting and loving that odd man to the last breath he had left.

It took few seconds for Scarmauche to gather himself. He wanted to scream, to beat the younger man, but he knew that it could bite him back in the future, after all, he wasn't so loyal to Tsaritsa himself.

Emotions of the past few moments made the air in the room dense and hard to breathe in. Both men wanted to be out of there as fast as they could.

"I'll let your disloyalty to her Highness slide this time. It's a one-time thing and DO NOT expect for me to have any mercy over you ever again. You're returning to Snezhnaya tomorrow. Pack your bags and be ready to leave at 4 am."

Not having any energy to fight back, knowing if he didn't obey the orders he would pay, Childe bowed and went back to his papers, giving Scaramuche a signal to leave the room

After that, Childe was left alone in his room, only his thoughts to accompany him.

The feeling of homesickness didn't matter as much as the feeling of leaving something far more precious behind. In less than a few hours he was going to leave, the only person who had ever accepted him, behind. But after all, every journey has its final end.