Book of One-Sh!ts

[Zhongli x Childe] Our First Meeting is at Each Other's End

"You're late." 

Childe turned around to see a green-haired human, no, yaksha? He'd never seen the guy before, but then again, there were a lot of things he claimed not to have seen before. That was the problem with being a time traveler. 

The male grabbed his arm forcibly and dragged him off. He forced him to go up a path on to the top of a mountain where a small grave stood. Zhongli. Childe knelt down and traced the name. He never knew a Zhongli. Well, at least not yet. But, if he was close to this man... he knew how it ended. Childe felt a wave of sadness wash over him. He hated it when he met them at the end of their lives. Every moment after that felt bittersweet. 

"You said you would be here for the funeral," the yaksha curled his hands into fists. "You liar!" he snapped. 

"I'm sor-" Childe blinked and the scenery changed. A man stood in front of him smiling. 

"No, the mistake is mine," he apologized, placing his hand on his chest and nodding slightly. The tips of his hair golden while the rest of it a dark shade of brown. 

"Zhongli!" someone ran down the path and jumped onto him, hugging him from behind. "Don't forget you have to work today, hehe." 

"Hu Tao-" 

"Zhongli?" Childe covered his mouth with his hand, gasping. The tears kept streaming down his face. 

"Ah," Zhongli gently took Hu Tao's arms off of himself and lightly grabbed Childe's arm, guiding him. "Please follow me." His voice was calm and trustworthy. It was almost as if he'd practiced speaking in just the right way to soothe him. Childe wiped his eyes, following obediently.  

"If you wouldn't mind, could we please have a table in the corner?" he asked. The server nodded, guiding the two toward a private place. Childe sat down, holding his face in his hands, sobbing. He didn't even know the guy but now he had a face to match with the tomb. It hurt. 

"Please get us a bowl of Calla Lily Seafood Soup, if you wouldn't mind," Zhongli requested. 

"Eh?" Childe sobbed even more. "How do you know my favorite soup?" 

"You warned me this would happen," Zhongli folded his hands on the table, smiling. There was something reassuring hiding in that smile, just like his voice was soothing. "That the first time you'd met me, you were crying," Zhongli chuckled. "How bittersweet this is, knowing our time together is dwindling," Zhongli sighed, closing his eyes. 

He opened his eyes again, placing his hand over Childe's. "In case I don't get to say this again, please know that I love you, Tartaglia." 

"But I-" 

"Here is the soup," the waiter placed it down. 

Childe stared at it, lifting the spoon to take a sip. "Who are you?" 

"My human name is Zhongli," he introduced himself. "You and I...are quite close but there is time for that for you." 

"For me?" 

Zhongli smiled still, not replying. 

"Is there anything I should know?" Childe took another spoonful of soup. 

"Hm," Zhongli held his chin, thinking. "The younger I am, the rowdier I'll be." 

"What does that mean?" Childe's face scrunched up confused. 

"It means you should practice your swordplay a bit more in your free time," Zhongli chuckled. 

Childe spent hours talking to Zhongli about their relationship. He didn't get many concrete details but he knew there were plenty of things to look forward to. Just when he was wishing the night would never end, he slipped through time. He searched for Zhongli, wanting to know more about him. Sometimes he appeared in front of him. Other times he had to look for hours for him. Zhongli was the same every time. Dressed the same, just as patient, but Childe could tell this version of him would disappear soon. He was starting to understand the initial warning. Zhongli was getting 'rowdier.' He was also no longer in Liyue Harbor.