#zhongchi “Did you hear? The Harbinger who used to be stationed...
yulia 💫@FUSHIGUR0
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Jul 28, 2026
~10 min read
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1
#zhongchi
“Did you hear? The Harbinger who used to be stationed here found himself a boyfriend in back home!”
It was a mere comment from a gossiping street merchant, yet— the words shifted Zhongli’s very world on its axis. He halted, eyes flashing.
Childe has a 𝘸𝘩𝘢𝘵, now?
“Did you hear? The Harbinger who used to be stationed here found himself a boyfriend in back home!”
It was a mere comment from a gossiping street merchant, yet— the words shifted Zhongli’s very world on its axis. He halted, eyes flashing.
Childe has a 𝘸𝘩𝘢𝘵, now?
2
Before he knows it, he’s cornered the merchant along the dock, pinning him with a burning stare. “Excuse me, but please elaborate. Where did you hear of such a rumor?”
The merchant trembled at the sight of Zhongli’s dark expression, but answered defensively. “I-It’s not a rumor!
The merchant trembled at the sight of Zhongli’s dark expression, but answered defensively. “I-It’s not a rumor!
3
My closest partner from Snezhnaya told me herself! She has ears on everything there. Right after he came back from Liyue, they met and supposedly fell in love instantly- Eek!”
The merchant didn’t get to continue, too terrified by the murderous glare on the consultant’s face.
The merchant didn’t get to continue, too terrified by the murderous glare on the consultant’s face.
4
“I see.” Zhongli gritted his teeth, willing back his draconic features from appearing.
After the Bank incident, he gave Childe time to grapple with his true identity. Then, Zhongli planned to court him properly.
Such plans were now crushed to dust as a dragon took to the skies.
After the Bank incident, he gave Childe time to grapple with his true identity. Then, Zhongli planned to court him properly.
Such plans were now crushed to dust as a dragon took to the skies.
5
Under the light of the morning sun, the people of Liyue watched in awe as the majestic body of Rex Lapis engulfed the sky.
Those sensitive to elemental energy shuddered from the sheer magnitude of Geo power. Only when the dragon flew northwards could they finally breathe again.
Those sensitive to elemental energy shuddered from the sheer magnitude of Geo power. Only when the dragon flew northwards could they finally breathe again.
6
The whipping cold winds and clear skies did nothing to ease his mind. As Zhongli soared through that vast expanse of blue, all he could think of was how it paled in comparison to Childe’s eyes.
Eyes that used to look at him with adoration.
Eyes that now looked at someone else.
Eyes that used to look at him with adoration.
Eyes that now looked at someone else.
7
How dare a mere mortal covet what belonged to Morax, most ancient and powerful of the gods. Childe was 𝘩𝘪𝘴 mate. 𝘏𝘪𝘴 to love and claim.
No one else’s.
In this form, his draconic instincts were amplified. Fierce roars shook the skies and made the very earth tremble.
No one else’s.
In this form, his draconic instincts were amplified. Fierce roars shook the skies and made the very earth tremble.
8
“Woah, what’s got you all worked up?” A voice whispered in the wind.
Zhongli ignored it, mind filled with images of his Childe smiling at a scoundrel who couldn’t compare to him. Some bastard who didn’t even deserve to breathe same air as his mate-
“Would you just calm down?!”
Zhongli ignored it, mind filled with images of his Childe smiling at a scoundrel who couldn’t compare to him. Some bastard who didn’t even deserve to breathe same air as his mate-
“Would you just calm down?!”
9
“Leave, Barbatos. This doesn’t concern you.” Zhongli growled.
“It does when you’re scaring my people half to death with your stunt!” Venti sighed, exasperated. “They’re convinced Dvalin’s been corrupted again! How can I enjoy a drink if the streets are filled with panic?”
“It does when you’re scaring my people half to death with your stunt!” Venti sighed, exasperated. “They’re convinced Dvalin’s been corrupted again! How can I enjoy a drink if the streets are filled with panic?”
10
“I don’t care!” His voice thundered, shocking the carefree bard.
“You… You care for him that much?” Venti asked quietly. After all, the winds hear all.
“Yes.” Zhongli replied, voice turning impossibly tender. “The life I’ve lived has been a good one, for it has led me to him.”
“You… You care for him that much?” Venti asked quietly. After all, the winds hear all.
“Yes.” Zhongli replied, voice turning impossibly tender. “The life I’ve lived has been a good one, for it has led me to him.”
11
“I adore him, Barbatos… Each day, he surprises me with how much love he has for a world that’s forsaken him. Childe… He is my once in a lifetime.”
The dragon confessed, eyes gleaming with emotion. “That is precisely why I will never let him go.”
The wind did not answer back.
The dragon confessed, eyes gleaming with emotion. “That is precisely why I will never let him go.”
The wind did not answer back.
12
Though Barbatos remained silent, Zhongli was grateful for the gusts trailing after him, hastening his journey towards the Land of Winter.
He arrived at Zapolyarny Palace in record speed, breaching the crystal gates with little care for the Fatui forces that tried to stop him.
He arrived at Zapolyarny Palace in record speed, breaching the crystal gates with little care for the Fatui forces that tried to stop him.
13
Apparently, the Tsaritsa foresaw his arrival, dismissing her soldiers with a simple command.
Crystals formed in the air as immense Cryo energy reacted with the Geo emanating from Zhongli. He had turned back into his human form, but the rage still boiled within.
“Where is he.”
Crystals formed in the air as immense Cryo energy reacted with the Geo emanating from Zhongli. He had turned back into his human form, but the rage still boiled within.
“Where is he.”
14
“I see you have abandoned your manners since we last spoke, Morax.” She answered coldly. “You’ll have to be more specific.”
A wave of Geo flared, cracking the ice beneath them. He could barely hold back a scowl. “Childe. Where can I find him.”
𝘛𝘩𝘢𝘵 gets her attention.
A wave of Geo flared, cracking the ice beneath them. He could barely hold back a scowl. “Childe. Where can I find him.”
𝘛𝘩𝘢𝘵 gets her attention.
15
“What business might you have with 𝘮𝘺 Eleventh?” She sneered.
Zhongli resisted the urge to dye the tip of Vortex Vanquisher red with her blood. Such matters could wait.
“Tell me where he is, or your crusade against Celestia ends here.” He snarled, voice tinged with promise.
Zhongli resisted the urge to dye the tip of Vortex Vanquisher red with her blood. Such matters could wait.
“Tell me where he is, or your crusade against Celestia ends here.” He snarled, voice tinged with promise.
16
For all her prowess as a warrior, even the Cryo Archon did not want to provoke Morax. She had no need for a war with him.
Still, as she pointed him towards a sleepy little village called Morepesok, she couldn’t help but comment.
“You know, Childe has told me a lot about him.”
Still, as she pointed him towards a sleepy little village called Morepesok, she couldn’t help but comment.
“You know, Childe has told me a lot about him.”
17
Zhongli halted. His gaze turned back, meeting a cold yet somehow amused stare. “Him…?”
“Yes, he talks about him all the time. Everyone in the Fatui knows about it. The person Childe loves most—”
The ground split as Zhongli left, shattered remains of ice trailing in his wake.
“Yes, he talks about him all the time. Everyone in the Fatui knows about it. The person Childe loves most—”
The ground split as Zhongli left, shattered remains of ice trailing in his wake.
18
The Tsaritsa smiled. It seemed her Vanguard has picked up a mighty pawn indeed.
——
An hour after a large earthquake shook Zapolyarny Palace, a foreign man arrived at the edge of Morepesok.
Childe was fishing peacefully when, suddenly, a flood of Geo energy rushed towards him.
——
An hour after a large earthquake shook Zapolyarny Palace, a foreign man arrived at the edge of Morepesok.
Childe was fishing peacefully when, suddenly, a flood of Geo energy rushed towards him.
19
His adrenaline flared and he whipped around, body tensed and ready for any danger that would-
Instead, he found himself swept into strong arms, colored with black and gold Geo markings.
Silkflower incense and jasmine tea. A familiar scent and warmth.
“Z-Zhongli…?!”
Instead, he found himself swept into strong arms, colored with black and gold Geo markings.
Silkflower incense and jasmine tea. A familiar scent and warmth.
“Z-Zhongli…?!”
20
The redhead’s voice came muffled against the consultant’s chest. The thin fabric of his Archon robe meant that Childe could feel each breath, each thundering beat of Zhongli’s heart.
“Childe…” He breathed, exhaling like a man drowned taking his first breath of air. “Childe…”
“Childe…” He breathed, exhaling like a man drowned taking his first breath of air. “Childe…”
21
Zhongli dove towards his neck, inhaling the familiar scent of ocean salt and sweet citrus he missed so dearly.
Good. His mate didn’t smell like anyone else yet.
Childe flushed at the ticklish feeling, squirming in his hold. “What’s going on? Why are you acting like this- 𝘢𝘩!”
Good. His mate didn’t smell like anyone else yet.
Childe flushed at the ticklish feeling, squirming in his hold. “What’s going on? Why are you acting like this- 𝘢𝘩!”
22
Zhongli’s fangs grazed the back of his nape, making Childe gasp. Golden eyes gleamed with desire as pink dusted over fair skin. Archons, his mate was just so 𝘱𝘳𝘦𝘵𝘵𝘺.
“Let me go already!” Childe pushed him away, scowling vehemently. “Why are you even here, 𝘔𝘰𝘳𝘢𝘹?”
“Let me go already!” Childe pushed him away, scowling vehemently. “Why are you even here, 𝘔𝘰𝘳𝘢𝘹?”
23
Zhongli flinched at the anger swimming in Childe’s eyes. Right. This was an unreconciled reunion.
He spoke slowly, sincerity tinging his voice like rain soaking into earth. “I am deeply sorry, Childe... Both for my silence after our argument and for my sudden appearance here.
He spoke slowly, sincerity tinging his voice like rain soaking into earth. “I am deeply sorry, Childe... Both for my silence after our argument and for my sudden appearance here.
24
I only wanted to give you time to adapt to my true identity. I did not know how you would react. Perhaps… A part of me even feared it.” Zhongli sighed, pressing his forehead against Childe’s own.
The cool touch soothed his mind, stabilizing his thoughts.
The yin to his yang.
The cool touch soothed his mind, stabilizing his thoughts.
The yin to his yang.
25
Childe remained quiet, eyes studying him with the sharpness of a blade. Still, he didn’t move away. A silent amnesty.
Zhongli continued, voice hoarse. “I neglected to make amends before we parted. But when I heard of your new partner, I couldn’t let things end between-”
“Wait.”
Zhongli continued, voice hoarse. “I neglected to make amends before we parted. But when I heard of your new partner, I couldn’t let things end between-”
“Wait.”
26
The hollow edge to Childe’s voice made his heart plummet into his stomach— stone sinking into water.
Zhongli panicked, holding him closer. “Childe, please- He may care for you, but I will do so tenfold. I can assure that-”
“What are you talking about? I don’t have a boyfriend.”
Zhongli panicked, holding him closer. “Childe, please- He may care for you, but I will do so tenfold. I can assure that-”
“What are you talking about? I don’t have a boyfriend.”
27
Zhongli froze, stunned amber meeting similarly confused blue. “You… You don’t?”
He shook his head, baffled. “No! Where’d you even hear such a rumor anyways?”
Zhongli’s heart began racing. Childe was single.
He didn’t have anyone in his heart.
Zhongli could make him 𝘩𝘪𝘴.
He shook his head, baffled. “No! Where’d you even hear such a rumor anyways?”
Zhongli’s heart began racing. Childe was single.
He didn’t have anyone in his heart.
Zhongli could make him 𝘩𝘪𝘴.
28
Hope surged through his chest, warming him even in the winter cold.
“Then… Will you allow me to court you without reserve?” Zhongli smiled, joyful and radiant in a way that made Childe’s heart tremble.
The redhead blushed, averting his gaze to the ground.
Silently, he nodded.
“Then… Will you allow me to court you without reserve?” Zhongli smiled, joyful and radiant in a way that made Childe’s heart tremble.
The redhead blushed, averting his gaze to the ground.
Silently, he nodded.
29
Much later, after he had given Zhongli a good scolding for suddenly showing up in Snezhnaya, Childe sat contently in his arms.
His back was pressed against a sturdy chest as he continued to fish. Zhongli hugged his waist tightly— a happy dragon hoarding its dearest treasure.
His back was pressed against a sturdy chest as he continued to fish. Zhongli hugged his waist tightly— a happy dragon hoarding its dearest treasure.
30
“You know,” Childe said suddenly, tilting his head back so he could look at Zhongli. “I think I know where that rumor came from.”
Zhongli tensed. Suddenly, he recalled the age-old adage: behind every lie laid a grain of truth.
Was there another suitor after his mate after all?
Zhongli tensed. Suddenly, he recalled the age-old adage: behind every lie laid a grain of truth.
Was there another suitor after his mate after all?
31
“I can practically hear the gears in your mind turning.” Childe huffed fondly at the frown on the his face. “What I meant was… There’s this granny who loves to spread rumors in our village. But her heavy accent makes it hard for people to understand her.”
Zhongli blinked.
Ah.
Zhongli blinked.
Ah.
32
He should have expected it, really. How many times had his people warped tales about his own feats?
Childe spoke about gifts for his younger siblings, which the old woman repeated.
“That boy bought new toys for them, how lovely!” turned into “He has a new boy toy who he loves!”
Childe spoke about gifts for his younger siblings, which the old woman repeated.
“That boy bought new toys for them, how lovely!” turned into “He has a new boy toy who he loves!”
33
As the rumor passed from Morepesok to Snezhnaya’s capital and further across nations to the shores of Liyue, it had morphed into a full-pledged love story about Childe and his new paramour. A completely ridiculous tale from Teyvat’s gossip circles.
And Zhongli fell right for it.
And Zhongli fell right for it.
34
“So let me get this straight… You revealed yourself to your people, undid all of the work we did in Liyue, came all the way here, and threatened my Archon… Just because you didn’t think to fact-check the words of some random merchant?”
“…Yes.” Zhongli answered stiffly.
“…Yes.” Zhongli answered stiffly.
35
“Oh, Tsaritsa-” Childe cackled, body trembling with mirth. “You can be so 𝘴𝘪𝘭𝘭𝘺 sometimes, xiansheng!”
His teasing smile and bright eyes made Zhongli’s heart sing with adoration.
“Hmm...” He whispered softly, leaning in. “I suppose I am.”
A true, lovesick fool.
——
His teasing smile and bright eyes made Zhongli’s heart sing with adoration.
“Hmm...” He whispered softly, leaning in. “I suppose I am.”
A true, lovesick fool.
——
36
That night, as a certain dragon held his treasure to sleep, the Goddess of Love and Frost sat quietly on her balcony.
An icy wind tickled her ear, carrying with it impish laughter.
“Hahaha! I can’t believe he fell for that! Perhaps our old friend is growing senile after all.”
An icy wind tickled her ear, carrying with it impish laughter.
“Hahaha! I can’t believe he fell for that! Perhaps our old friend is growing senile after all.”
37
She scoffed, cold exterior melting away. “He’s certainly dulled since our last encounter. A testament to my youngest’s charm, no doubt.”
Venti giggled at the pride in voice. How interesting must this boy be to hold the affection of two Archons?
One day, he aimed to find out.
Venti giggled at the pride in voice. How interesting must this boy be to hold the affection of two Archons?
One day, he aimed to find out.
38
“Well, you 𝘥𝘪𝘥 provoke him with that comment.”
“I don’t recall speaking any lies.” She answered smoothly. “Any Fatuus knows how much Childe loves his brother. I simply informed Morax— it is his fault for leaving before I finished.”
Venti snorted. “He’ll be angry, you know.”
“I don’t recall speaking any lies.” She answered smoothly. “Any Fatuus knows how much Childe loves his brother. I simply informed Morax— it is his fault for leaving before I finished.”
Venti snorted. “He’ll be angry, you know.”
39
She merely smiled, calm and vicious. “Not if he wants my approval for the wedding he so clearly desires. Besides… He’ll be plenty busy once I tell him you’re the one who informed me of his arrival.”
The wind shook, shaking snowy pine trees. “W-Wait! Let’s talk about this!”
———
The wind shook, shaking snowy pine trees. “W-Wait! Let’s talk about this!”
———
40
Whew this was longer than usual but I really liked how it turned out! We don’t get much 🍃+❄️ interactions so I added a bit at the end for fun hehe
🔶: He won’t treat you like I do baby please don’t text him back
🔶: Missed call (500)
💧: What the fuck are you talking about
🔶: He won’t treat you like I do baby please don’t text him back
🔶: Missed call (500)
💧: What the fuck are you talking about
