After that whole debacle, it was decided that each of them would take turns taking care of A-Yu....which really meant that Ajax and poor Sky Bracer. Who seemed genuinely eager to help Ajax out; following instructions to perfection. And damn if he did all of those tasks with the grace of a prince, even with drool all over him from A-Yu falling asleep in his arms.
Ajax had teased him for that, earning him a flushed Sky Bracer; a nice blush spread over his face, making him look twice as handsome. Causing Ajax's heart to beat rapidly in his chest, he looked gorgeous. His hair loose to his shoulders, a shy smile spread over his face, his yellow eyeliner framing his bashful eyes, the warmness of his eyes, the way he sighed slightly in his hand as the teasing continued on.
He was the only adepti that even attempted to help and understand, the others quickly gave up proclaiming it to be, "Pointless and counterproductive."
However, they did not call it 'pointless and counterproductive' as they watched Ajax take care of A-Yu as if they were entranced by the spectacle in front of them, sat around the table. Their eyes all on Ajax and Sky Bracer as they were some sort of entertainment for them.
Ajax still did not understand why they watched him taking care of A-Yu as something so whimsical; he was starting to feel as if he was accomplishing a great feat, it was terrible for his ego.
He had never been one to admit it but he loved attention.
Craved it even.
Being raised in a house with 3 older siblings and 3 younger siblings meant that he did not get proper attention growing up. He was always seen as the last priority in their family, all of his other siblings got more attention and praise from his parents. He was set on the back burner since he was born. As a kid, he never got any attention from his parents even if he tried to. They would always either ignore him or send one of his older siblings to deal with him.
He never truly got the attention and love he wanted.
And so, when he was suddenly praised, admired, and feared; he loved it.
He swam in the plethora of eyes on him, as if drinking in a good wine on a cool summer evening. The eyes on him felt flattering and fulfilled a sort of need, he did not know he even had; the need to be paid attention too.
As a newly proclaimed Harbinger, he was overjoyed with the amount of eyes on him. He drank it in and swam in the crowds of eyes.
Sometimes he wondered if it was because of his time in the Abyss that made him that eager for attention. After all, a part of himself was thrilled to be feared by someone.
The Abyss did that to people. Drove them mad, made them monsters, made them sub-human, inhuman, beasts, you name it.
It was an ugly pungent thing that never went away no matter how many baths you possibly had. It was an infection that never truly went away no matter how much medicine you took. He could not wash it away, and it constantly whispered things in his ear at every turn he got. Sometimes he wondered if it was a part of him or if it was a different entity altogether.
But either way, he was satisfied with the amount of eyes on him.
The only thing that changed his desire to watch the dreadful fear on peoples faces was Zhongli.
He walked into Ajax's life with so much grace and elegance, so much composure, so self-assured and serene. Like he had all the time in the world, like he had seen it all, as if he had made peace with the world itself.
However, the only thing he wanted now more than ever was Zhongli's eyes on him and him only.
A sick part of himself wanted Zhongli's eyes on him and him alone. He wanted to morph into Zhongli and be one with him, wrap himself around his entire being like a snake and be with him at all costs.
YOU ARE READING
~𝒜𝓃 𝒜𝒹𝑒𝓅𝓉𝓊𝓈' 𝐿𝒶𝓈𝓉 𝒲𝒾𝓈𝒽~ (𝒵𝒽𝑜𝓃𝑔𝒸𝒽𝒾)
Fanfiction(Zhongchi)~ After the Gnosis incident, Childe decides to take a much-needed break away from Zhongli. However, how was he supposed to react, when all of a sudden Lumine showed up outside his apartment sounding terribly mortified, "Childe.....Zhongli...
