Hermit the Frog (english translation)

Hermit the Frog

Childe was in love, really he was. Even with his warrior heart, used to blood and fights, he found this person his mother always used to talk about. "One day, you will meet someone that will make your heart pound uncontrollably, you'll want to take care of them". This person, was none other than the man who was supposed to help him find the Geo Archon, the Wangsheng funeral parlor's consultant: Zhongli. They became quickly friends, but Childe fell in love. He fell in love with his low-pitched voice, that recounted tails like it was there during the events, with his long dark hair slightly golden at the ends, with his deep Cor Lapis eyes, with the way he softly brushed Childe's hand with his gloved fingers to show him the proper way to use chopsticks. Anyway, he drowned in his romance.

Childe, no Tartaglia, fought the traveller, released an ancient God and is now at the Northland Bank facing his collegue, La Signora, 8th of the Fatui Harbingers, the traveller, and surprisingly, Zhongli was there aswell. But something was wrong: why was Zhongli handing the Geo Archon's Gnosis to the 8th? What was it this time.

- Ah! Tartaglia there you are! cried out La Signora.

- Good evening, Childe, saluted Zhongli.

Childe stood there, not understanding anything, how was Zhongli in the possession of the Gnosis they were both looking for?

- Why didn't you tell me you found the Gnosis...? asked Childe, the voice slightly shaking

- I- , started Zhongli

- Oh my! Tartaglia! interrupted the 8th, i thought your brain was actually capable enought to connect the dots! Your friend here IS Morax!

- What?! shouted Paimon.

Childe couldn't speak. He continued to listen.

- I made a contract with the Tsaritsa, i now have to yield my Gnosis.

Childe wasn't listening anymore, he didn't want to listen.

- Don't you care about my feelings Zhongli? You practically kept me in the dark here!

- This was the contract, Tartaglia, responded La Signora, come now, a ship awaits us.

- Even death would be more bearable than sharing a boat with you, spat Childe.

- Do as you please.

Childe looked at Zhongli furiously, then stormed out of the bank. Zhongli seemed to have wanted to say something, but Childe already disappeared behind the big door. The 11th couldn't stay, what remained of his heart, broke into a thousand pieces that night.

Days passed and Childe did his job as if nothing happened, only one thing changed: the stars that lighly appeared in his eyes during this trip in Liyue disappeared once again. But he continued living even with the emptiness he felt where his heart should be. He was used to it. But when he walked to his desk, he noticed a letter, it wasn't signed. He opened it and read the words:

   "Dear friend
    I suppose that while reading my words you will understand who the sender is.
I wanted to apologize for not telling you about my plan. I never thought i would see you as more than a cooperator, so i told myself that using you wouldn't hurt, i was terribly wrong and regret these secrets.
If you want to talk about it, i'll be at Liuli Pavillion until 9 pm.
I hope you will be there, i care deeply for you.
See you tonight, i hope.
A friend that cares."

"Zhongli..." thought Ajax. He decided to go, maybe it would be worth it. There was only 30 minutes left until Zhongli went home.

Ajax arrived at Liuli Pavilion, hands damp, black circles under his eyes and the gaze empty. He entered the building and immediately noticed Zhongli sitted at a table. Zhongli glanced at him with a relieved then horrified look, probably because of his empty face. He wasn't the same person, this wasn't Childe, the youngest Harbinger, that was Ajax, the survivor of the Abyss, but who still is sensitive and emotional. Zhongli refrained himself from asking too much questions not wanting to be too demanding.

-Good evening, Childe, welcomed Zhongli with a comforting smile.

- Good evening, responded Ajax coldly.

- I wanted to talk about what happened at the bank...

- Alright.

- First, i wanted to remind you that i deeply care about you, and losing you would hurt me a lot, i already lost a lot of friends and i don't want you to be another of them.

- And what tells me that you are sincere, that you are not lying, asked the Abyss survivor.

- Excuse me?

- You already lied about your identity.

It seems Ajax had woken up.

- I never had any friends, because of the Abyss and the Fatui, i should have known that you were a lie, that this was fake, that everything was fake, that everything will always be fake, angrily said Ajax, no one will ever see me as anything other that the youngest Harbinger, Tartaglia, Childe, the survivor of the Abyss, but it was not Tartaglia, neither Childe that survived the Abyss, it was Ajax, this 14 year old kid who just wanted to play in the snow.

- Ajax...

- Do not call me that, he coldly spoke, Ajax is dead, he died when I came out of the Abyss, do not call me that, never again.

Childe seemed anxious and furious.

- Childe please, listen to me-

- I don't wan't to hear you or your lies.

He shouldn't have come.

- Please Childe don't go you too... These moments together weren't lies to me...

- I won't listen to anyone again, quietly spoke Childe, voice trembling.

- Please don't leave me..

- I was just another pawn in your board.

Ajax almost broke down in front of Zhongli. He ran to his home and cried, he couldn't hold himself back. It was the first time since the Abyss, that he let himself cry.

Love really wasn't for Tartaglia, the youngest Harbinger.

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Happy Birthday Childe 😘
Zhongli kinda sounds like an emotional manipulater but that's what he is soooo.
Hope you enjoyed!
973 words.