Eyes of Perception

Chapter 11

Zhongli smiled, as if he'd been expecting that. He walked again, leading them into a small clearing before turning to Childe. "Very well. The battle will be fought until first blood is drawn and no further. Are there any stakes you wish to fight for?"

Childe didn't pause to think, the answer already heavy on his tongue. "If I win, you will let me go. You'll act as if you've never met me and you'll stay away from me."

A sad laugh came from Zhongli. "Do you really despise me so much as you would wish not to see me ever again, my dear diplomat?"

It's for your own safety, came Childe's unspoken reply. Instead, he simply stared back at Zhongli, trying to remain cold. He couldn't back down. He had to protect Zhongli, repay him for the kindness the consultant showed him. Because Childe was too damaged for Zhongli. Too cruel. Too broken. Because Childe was already a wreck, and if Zhongli stayed by his side, he, too, would be destroyed. Because Childe didn't deserve someone like him.

"Very well," Zhongli finally said. "Though if I win, you will hear me out before rushing into decisions. I will not force you to remain as my companion, but I merely ask that you hear my side first."

Childe nodded at that. It seemed fair enough. "We have a deal," he said, reaching out his hand.

Zhongli shook it, offering him a tense smile in response. "A contract."

The food from Wanmin Restaurant was forgotten, gently placed onto the ground. As an afterthought, Childe shrugged out of his jacket, gently folding it and placing it on the ground. He wanted to get this over with as soon as possible, and the jacket would only get in the way. 

His breath caught in his throat as he watched Zhongli do the same. Careful fingers undid golden buttons, and for the first time, the sliver of skin showed from behind all of those many layers as Zhongli tugged the long tailcoat off. The skin was hidden again just as quickly as Zhongli pulled his glove down, covering the thin spot of his wrist that had been shown and leaving Childe momentarily stuck in a sort of trance.

He'd never seen Zhongli look so... informal. Even during their mission on the Pearl Galley, he'd been the image of regal perfection, like some emperor or god that had to be worshiped. He'd looked good then - (Childe's traitorous thoughts whispered that Zhongli always looked good. For once, he agreed with those thoughts) but Childe decided that he liked this version just as much, maybe even more. 

Carefully, as if he had all the time in the world, Zhongli set aside one accessory after another until he was left just in his button-up shirt with the fancy vest and dress pants. Almost leisurely, he checked that his vision was still attached to his belt before turning to Childe, a sad sort of expression on his face. 

(Childe suddenly felt bad. This was an easy win for him. He'd put Zhongli into a position where the consultant had no choice but to never approach him again. After all, how could a funeral consultant beat a Harbinger in a fair fight, especially the Vanguard of all people? Would it be wrong if he went a little easier on him? He didn't want to accidentally hurt Zhongli...)

"Please, summon your weapon of choice and we shall begin," Zhongli said, snapping Childe back to reality. 

Childe waved him off. "No need. I've got my ways."

With the flick of his hand, twin blades materialized in his hands, the water spinning underneath his fingers in an endless cycle. Zhongli nodded in appreciation before reaching to his right and materializing a long spear - a neat trick that Childe had learned back in the Abyss from his master. It was rather simple, really. The world was separated into layers of sorts, and those who were granted visions could see these layers as a 'pocket space', roughly put. For someone who'd mastered their vision, using the layers of the world as a storage space for weapons was nothing.