𝐎𝐓𝐇𝐄𝐑𝐖𝐎𝐑𝐋𝐃𝐋𝐘 𝐓𝐎𝐔𝐂𝐇 | Tartaglia x Reader | ON HOLD

Chapter 12

(Narrative POV)
By now it was already 10:23pm, Zhongli and Meili were still discussing the old times as if nothing happened. You were still curious on how and in what way Zhongli desired Meili's presence, after all. It did not seem like he loved her or even liked her in any sort of way. It may have just acted out the loneliness he has felt these past years has driven him to some sort of trivial error that could've led him to this path.

You yawned, leaning closer to Childe's chest as he continued devouring the free food his mother had granted. He just could not fathom at the fact he was allowed to eat without paying for once. Childe was always very careful of what he spent his 'fatui mora' on, mainly because he did not want to seem like a fool in front of her majesty.

After he had finished wolfing down for what seemed like his fifth meal of the night, he refreshed himself with a cup of water and enveloped you in his arms.

"Why do you eat so much and not gain a single inch of fat?!" you exclaim, whisper-shouting in Childe's ear as he let out a breathy chuckle.

"It all comes down to how I burn it, even if I do wield a vision of hydro." He mentions, expecting you to get the dad joke he had just made.

You looked at him dead in the eye and slapped him, with him whining like a little baby in response.

"Y/N and Childe, you may take your leave for tonight. I do not think me and 'Mae' will be able to join the two of you on your journey home. After all, it has been centuries since I've had a proper companion to talk to" Zhongli concludes, with a smile on his face which you have never seen before.

Childe pouts, embracing his mother once more before letting out a vulnerable "bye mama" and kissing her on the cheek. He waved goodbye at the two friends and left with you by his side.

"What a night huh?"

He nods, flashing a toothy grin whilst his eyes smiled. He seemed so happy to finally meet his loving guardian. Childe's father wasn't very fond of him and it made the ginger grow up too fast. He never understood the true meaning of family until he learnt to take care of his siblings.

"Wait, I need to show you something" the red head says, lifting you up bridal style and bringing you to a mountain. The moon and stars seemed to shine much brighter than before Meili descended upon Liyue.

Once he reached the top, you crawled off his arms and gasped at the amazing scenery.

"How'd you get me up here so fast? How'd you manage to climb?" you bombarded him with questions when he responded with a simple shrug.

You began to glance back at the stars of teyvat, hearing a small gulp from Tartaglia.

"Y/N.. um. May I ask you something?" he asks, leaning closer to you and intertwining fingers with you.

You nod, leaning onto his chest as you both lay your backs on the smooth grass below.

You were too busy stargazing to notice his hitched and fidgety figure. He didn't know how to get it out of him.

"W-would you like to be my girlfriend?" he stuttered out, you sighed and embraced him in a hug.

You nodded and you could feel his heart thump so loudly it felt like it was about to leap out of his chest.

He let out a squeal and pushed you against the grass, pinning you down and connecting his lips with yours. The adrenaline and serotonin flowing through your veins as you wrap your arms around his neck.

He gave you a loving kiss, not rough, not horny. Just pure love. He did not like you just because you were hot, but because you were everything he dreamed of in one person.

When he pulled away, you swore on your life you heard him let out a quiet sob. The ginger nuzzled his head under your chin, his hitched breaths tickling the sides of your neck.

"What's wrong Childe?"

"Ajax. Just Ajax please." he pleaded, letting tears stream down his cheeks. He held your body close to his, hugging you as if you meant more than gold to him. You have never seen Ajax so vulnerable before, it was certainly one of the first ever times he had shown his true emotions.

"I don't mean to show any of my emotions, but.. you have brought so much light to my world, You don't understand." he stated, keeping out whatever detail that may leave you in a mess.

Your eyes soften, gently running your hands through his hair. Giving him a gentle rock as his sensitive cries ring into your ears.

He felt weak inside. Although he had to display himself as a fatui harbinger, he can't help but feel lost. As if nobody could trust him just because of his status.

Everybody would call him names, send death threats and so much more.

"You pathetic excuse of a harbinger!"

They screamed.

"You're so useless! You mean nothing to me"

His father shouted.

"Fatui like you are the reason why we liyueans do not associate ourselves with the tsaritsa"

They chanted.

"You've hurt countless lives, why don't you just go kill yourself!"

She argued.

Deep inside, the only thing keeping him alive were the tubed strings that were attached to his dying heart, tubes that the tsaritsa and his siblings had fulfilled him with.

Other than that, he did not find any joy in living until it came to you.

You made his life worth a living.

Your otherworldly touch was what he had been craving for years and years to get his hands on.

He yearned for somebody to love for so many years, someone to break his crazed piece of mind. Somebody to lean on and understand how he felt.

"I'm sorry, please forgive me for my informal attitude." Ajax says, his ginger hair falling over his beautifully painting-like ocean eyes.

The tears in his eyes spoke of how painful it was to depend on himself for love.

"Please don't forgive yourself, you did nothing wrong my dear" you spoke as if to say he had nothing to apologize about, gently caressing his cheeks with sympathy.

He nodded and wiped his tears away, yawning right after. He leaned closer to your chest, letting his eyes close.

"Let's stay like this for awhile, please."

You agree and slowly he fell asleep, you knew that you two couldn't just sleep in the mountains for long so you used your heavy elemental concentration and teleported back home.

You changed him and your clothes and laid him on your chest once again.

His slow breaths were the last thing you heard before your eyes flutter closed.