If I Can't Take Your Pokémon, Can I Have Your Heart Instead?

Destiny Bond

Childe wakes up to the smell of tears, boogers, and Zhongli, and instantly feels a wave of embarrassment. What the actual fuck? 

"Mmm. Good morning, Childe," Zhongli grumbles as he pulls him in closer. 

Childe hides his face. No way Zhongli saw all that last night. 

"How'd you sleep?" Zhongli inquires sleepily. 

"Great," Childe manages to get out under the crushing wave of embarrassment. 

"Feeling better?"

"Yup." 

Zhongli smiles and kisses him on the nose, and Childe's heart leaps. His heart is beating so rapidly he thinks it might just explode. He can't tell if it's from love or anxiety or both. 

Zhongli pulls away and grabs Childe's shoulders, furrowing his brow as he examines his face. 

"Are you sure you're alright, darling?"

There's no mistaking the shade of red that Childe's face turns, the deep maroon of a krookodile. 

"Of course!" Childe stammers, but Zhongli's brow only furrows. 

"There's no use in lying to me, Childe. I study pokemon behavior, and human behavior is not so different." 

This only furthers Childe's embarrassment. Looks like he's been caught red-handed. Or red-faced. Both.

"I'm sorry," Childe mumbles.

"Pardon?" Zhongli inquires, but Childe knows from the twinkle in his eye that he heard him perfectly well. 

"Forget it."

"No, no, no, what'd you say, darling?" Zhongli chides.

Childe sighs and rolls his eyes.

"I'm sorry for all that last night."

"Ahhh," Zhongli says, nodding slowly, "that's why I couldn't understand you. Sorry, I have trouble understanding nonsense."

Childe glares and hits Zhongli playfully. Zhongli ends up pinning Childe down, restraining him while Childe is kicking for freedom, but laughing the whole time. Zhongli looms over him, giving him another kiss on the nose. 

"I absolutely adore you," he hums, "don't you apologize for anything. I've told you a million times, it's not your fault."

Despite that, Childe's smile disappears. 

"I can't help but feel like it is though," he says softly with a sigh. "And well, you don't really seem like the kind of guy that would kick a bunch of poor children to the streets, even if you hated it. How do I know that you don't hate my guts?" 

"Childe. While I do admit that I would not kick a bunch of poor children who did nothing wrong to the streets, if I didn't want you you would not be here right now. In fact, I probably would have called child protective services on you by now. You're here because I love you, and I trust you. Although I can't say I encourage thievery, I do admire the love you have for your siblings, and I do believe that you love me just as much. I have faith in you, Childe. I love you."

Tears stream down Childe's face, but it's a slow, steady trickle, unlike the gushing streams from last night. A warmth spreads throughout his chest. This is it, he thinks. War is over. I've found peace. 

"Ajax."

"Huh?"

"That's my real name. Call me Ajax. Childe is no more."

"Ajax." 

Zhongli says it with a smile, and Ajax feels as if he gives this name a whole new meaning. Childe is a name for the streets, a criminal mastermind who fights and steals and hurts. Ajax is the big brother of Tonia, Anthon, and Teucer, and Zhongli's lover. Childe represents the life thrust upon him, but Ajax is the life he chooses, with the people he loves.