Chapter Text
━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━
"Are you sure it's okay for you to hike up this high?"
Zhongli huffs a breath, feeling the exhaustion coming to him. "Yes." There is still a good distance before they reach the spot he remembers he favoured. "I will be fine. I am not invalid, Ajax."
Childe's face twists into a pout, "It's not that... " Those blue eyes stray away, unfocused for a moment. "Is it not too hot?"
"No."
"Too cold? I brought a coat, just in case–"
"Ajax, my beloved, please." Zhongli, frankly, is beginning to think he is old and incapacitated for how he is being treated. Again, not harmful. It is simply more difficult now to argue with a stubborn, overprotective alpha. "If I am tired, I will rest. Will that suffice?"
Childe looks as though it is not, and that he would say something else. Much to Zhongli's surprise, his mate releases a breath and nods before motioning for him to resume the hike. Dawn has barely arrived, they rely on the lantern that hangs from the bagpack that Childe carries as well as the night vision their own eyes offer. The sun will come an hour from now, just in time for them to reach the destination Zhongli has in mind.
The air wouldn't be as cold by then, at least for Zhongli. Then he would not be too reluctant in stripping himself bare. He knows the alpha would – not for a fact that he would remove his own clothing, rather that Zhongli would – though, and he makes a mental note of all his reasons to do so.
He also considers Childe's hostility toward everything that breathes and not around them.
"We are close." He informs once they pass by a mountain. A great one at that. He's proud of this one in particular as he raised it during the time he was still a little uncertain of what benefit that would bring to the little followers he had. There's a few more steps they would have to make, a few more steep hills they have to climb.
There is no morning where Zhongli does not get sick. It has become a routine, one where he's prepared himself solely just to make it easier for both himself and his beloved. Childe has never complained, and he would not start once he learns of the truth – but Zhongli does not like burdening the other nonetheless.
The spot he has in mind has been left untouched by humanity, he sees once they reach the highest peak. It is swallowed by nature; vines and moss everywhere, the bushes are thick, and dirt has covered the stone path. Yet, the spring remains clean as the last he's been here. As far as he's concerned, no adepti knows of the existence of this place. At least, none alive.
He turns to his beloved. "My apologies, but had you left me alone for even half a day, I would have been able to clean this more proper." Uncertain if he sounds sincere with his lack of care, he watches Childe laugh with a dismissive hand.
"That's alright. I find cleaning to be therapeutic." He's already removing his jacket, placing the bags on a dry patch of grass. "You can sit this one out, love."
"That would be most unlikely." Slowly, Zhongli folds his sleeves. "I am the one who led you here. The least I can do is help."
Childe looks ready to protest. He stares at him for long, assessing. Zhongli does not grace that with time, knowing it'll be a losing battle if he even tries so he simply walks pass the other. It is not difficult to clean, he observes. They need only to clean the stone path that leads up to the spring, then the vines around the rocks surrounding the water.
He summons a shovel, then turns and smiles toward his beloved. "I wouldn't do anything strenous." Childe takes the shovel with a critical eye turned to him. Zhongli ignores that, too, and returns his attention to the beautiful spring in front of them. "Well, let us begin."
━━━━━━━━━━━━
"You know." Childe slowly removes his jacket as they prepare to get in the water. "You should have told me we'd be here. I would've made the proper food for something like this."
Zhongli tilts his head. "What is wrong with the ones we have now?"
"Nothing, sweetheart." Kissing his cheek, Childe grins. He shrugs his shoulders, folding his upper clothes neatly before placing it on the blanket they laid out on the ground near the spring without it getting wet. "It's just I thought that it'd be easier if we have small ones, rather than a full out sandwich. Something like that."
Ruminating on those, Zhongli hums. He's stripped bare, have been for a few minutes now as he waits for the alpha to finish setting up the baskets. Childe would have been heavily against him being this naked, had Zhongli not introduced protective arrays. Where they can see out of the bubble of his seals, but nobody can see in. They will see only a barren land at the top of a mountain, and not a spring nor its two occupants.
Zhongli did not mind it as much. This specific spot has not been visited in many decades, if not centuries. But, he did not want to spend this time with his mate aggrieved and uncomfortable, hence the compromise.
"We can cut them into smaller portions." Zhongli folds his arms. He watches Childe pull his pants down. "And, I think I only wish to eat the fruit while we're in the water. I do not want to tarnish it with crumbs."
"Alright." With hands on his waist, Zhongli is gently guided closer to the springs. Childe leans forward, close to his ear. "Then, I'll cut them up for you later and hand feed them to you, how's that sound?"
"Won't that tire you?" The water isn't as hot as it appears. Testing the temperature slowly with his foot, Zhongli is pleased to know it would not hurt his beloved. "I can simply get out and sit with you on the blanket."
Childe shakes his head. "You'll be cold."
Zhongli smiles softly, and he moves his head just enough to be able to kiss the alpha's throat. "And you won't?"
He does not receive an answer immediately. They both find a crystal of geo to settle against and Zhongli sighs, satisfied with his idea for this morning. He had woken up thinking of only this place and how it'd be perfect for the both of them to relax in today. Childe had been peeved as of late, coming from the staff in the bank and Ping herself. He cannot focus on his work, and he is bloody aggressive in hunting debt. It only made sense, that Zhongli doesn't have work at all, that they come here to calm down.
Pulling his hair to the side, his eyes close slowly as he begins to part it in three. Childe keeps an arm around his middle. "I wouldn't feel as much cold, you know it."
"Perhaps." Zhongli inclines his head. "But I insist."
Childe sighs. "Come on, just for today, hm? Let me treat you good."
"You already do on a daily basis." Zhongli tuts, beginning to braid his hair. "You are to be lazy today, I command it."
"You command it." Childe echoes, tone cheeky. He leans, just close enough his head rests against Zhongli's shoulder. "Alright, if my mate commands it, then who am I not to obey?"
Zhongli's smile widens. "You should take a nap. You have not been sleeping well."
"Ah, I worry."
Fingers pausing momentarily, Zhongli opens his eyes to peak. "What is it that my beloved worries about so much that it keeps him up at night?" He emits his scent, having not worn blockers since they left their house as he deemed it unnecessary. Childe, however, still wore one. His scent has become violent, and it lashes out even with the man not being aware of it. It would have attracted many challengers, ones his mate would have gladly denied if Zhongli asked.
He's only glad the alpha removed it the second they were far away enough from civilization. That citrus scent when gentle is far too lovely to remain hidden. It is a sweet embrace, and it engulfs the omega from deep within.
"I worry about a lot of things." Childe slowly wraps his hand around Zhongli's. "I worry about my family, for they are far and difficult to access. I worry about the Tsarita and how much sacrifice she must do to achieve the dream of which Snezhnaya's bound to meet."
There is a sigh, a deep breath, then another sigh. "But most of all, I worry about you, and myself. It is difficult for me not to fall into my instincts if you are not within my sight. I become irrational and desperate. I fear what I will do if I cannot contain this, and that I might just harm you."
Zhongli lets go of his hair, allowing it to untangle again as he squeezes Childe's hand. "You will never harm me, you know this." He kisses the top of his beloved's head, of where he can reach in this angle.
"It is not entirely impossible." Childe pulls himself up, a frown of disagreement on his face. "And you said it yourself that your shield may be strong, but it is not fully impenetrable. How could I not worry?"
Indeed, Childe's concern reaches beyond what Zhongli can help with. It does not easily fade, if it ever does at all. He knows not what to do in order to reassure his beloved, but it does not mean he's entirely incapable. "Treat this day as a day of nothing but us. Nothing and no one exists outside of this barrier, therefore, there is no reason for you to be worried." He pats his cheek, smiling. "For nothing is there to hurt me or you. It is just the both of us, and we won't be hurting each other out of malice any time soon, hm?"
Childe blinks, looking at him as though he hadn't thought of that option. Then, he laughs. That lovely, sweet laugh Zhongli could never tire of. It is intimate, and it makes the omega want to purr. "Everything ceases to exist aside from us." He nods, slow and thoughtful, and Zhongli thinks he might have planted a seed he didn't mean to. "Okay, I can work with that. I take it we'll be here for the entire day?"
"If that pleases you."
"Anything that includes you pleases me so." Childe leans just enough to place a kiss on his lips. A soft one that does not last long before he's already pulling away. Whatever noise of disapproval that was about to leave Zhongli's throat is quickly swallowed down when he feels himself gingerly lifted up. In the same second, he is sat back down on Childe's lap, arms snuggly wrapped around his waist. "Be still, then, let me close my eyes for a moment."
Zhongli sighs fondly and pats that ginger head. "Sleep as much as you'll need." He begins running his fingers through his hair, sectioning them again as he had earlier before he was distracted.
Childe rests his head against him. "Wake me up if you need anything." His voice is a murmur, quiet in the noise of their environment. "Please? Knowing I am needed relaxes me more than anything."
"Alright." Zhongli is nothing but a person deeply in love with his mate. "Alright."
━━━━━━━━━━━━━
"Tonia used to yell at me whenever I mess up." Childe comments idly, placing a hydro flower on Zhongli's braid. "She'd constantly make me repeat them over and over again until I get it right."
"You are trained." Zhongli cannot help but think how experienced Childe already is with children, and how much he desires seeing the same scene the alpha speaks of. "By the best."
Childe laughs. "Only the best." This time, a hydro butterfly appears in the air. It is tucked between the divided hair, higher from where the flower was. "It works for my benefit, though. It's easy to learn, and I can use that skill to help you with your own hair."
Reaching up, Zhongli twirls a lock of orange hair between his fingers. "Have you ever thought of allowing yours to get longer?" He can imagine it, already. With how healthy it already is, it would no doubt be voluminous and beautiful. Zhongli would greatly enjoy doing the alpha's hair every morning. "I think the longest you've had it was below your ears before you had them cut again."
"I wouldn't know what to do with them, sweetheart." Childe chuckles. "I hardly know how you keep yours steady during all your fights. How it remains unscathed. But then again, your style is moreso defensive with your shield and all. You tend to be more reasonable with your actions and only move forth when necessary or once you see an opening. I am anything but."
"Hm, yes, you rush in the battle with merely a breath left in your wake." Zhongli inclines his head. "Perhaps if you have longer hair, you wouldn't be as so. You can keep it in a ponytail, that would suit you most."
Childe hums. "If that is what my dearest thinks, then I will consider." He pauses, contemplating. "That would take at least an entire year, so I have time." He makes hydro droplets, decorating the crown of Zhongli's head with it, amongst other things. "Today, I simply want to adore yours first and foremost."
"You have adored it wonderfully." Zhongli carefully touches the little hydro tiara. The first hydro accessory his beloved has made the second he woke up, as though even in his unconscious state, he was thinking of how to style his braided hair. The tiara is beautiful, glittering as it catches light and moves as how water does but retains its shape. It is not a jewelry he's seen in Liyue, so he assumes it's one from Snezhnaya. "Are you hungry, my Ajax?"
Childe's fingers pauses from where it's playing with the ends of Zhongli's hair. "Not really. Are you? Fruit? Or?" He's already bracing himself to move, the omega notes.
"Stay here." Zhongli stands swiftly, heedful of his dizzy head as not to tarnish the waters with what should stay inside him simply because of his decisions. "Did you separate the containers as I have said?"
"Lili." Childe sighs. "I could have done it myself."
"I am closer to where it is." Zhongli turns to him with mirth, smiling slyly. "Sit still." He orders even as he knows a man with overwhelming energy as Childe can never truly sit still.
Childe frowns, upset, but does as he's told as best he can.
The bags contains the meals they've prepared. Most that Childe has done the night before, then some in the early mornings. Zhongli, admittedly, was not much help in this case. It was difficult to not sleep the hardship of his exhausted body away, even more of a struggle to wake up before he was forced out of it with his nausea.
Pleased to see each of the food was separated by not just kind, but each specific food is in its own vessel. He rummages about, searching for utensils as well while he's here. The first fruit he looks for are the valberries, or even simply all the berries he sees. They are easy to eat, does not make their fingers sticky, and they are sweet. For reasons he does not care much to identify, Zhongli has developed an odd sweet tooth. Enough to rival even Childe's.
It is often strange when he requests a particular bag of caramels only Childe or Snezhnayans know every other day, when he barely eats one before for how sugary it was. While it is accessible to be transported from the land of frost, it would take long. Childe has offered to make it himself and it had been such wonderful news Zhongli almost shed a tear.
He reaches for that specific candy now, happy as he slowly makes his way back to his mate's side. Placing the containers on the flat rocks behind them, he opens them with a hum.
Zhongli holds up a berry in his hand. "Open your mouth."
Childe looks as though he's to refuse, but ultimately does with a small sigh. "I said –" He chews slowly. "I would be the one to hand feed you."
"Can I not do the same?" Zhongli shrugs. He cannot help the giggle that escapes him at Childe's pout.
In the intimacy and warmth of their environment, of Childe so close to him and so gentle with everything he does it makes Zhongli want to snuggle him with kisses, he forgets why he invited the alpha to hike up the mountain in the early hours before the sun rises.
His announcement.
He is nervous, even when there is no reason to be other than the fact they've never really broached the topic of children before. It was not a topic they have ever dared to venture, not yet when many things were still happening and definitely not something that Zhongli wishes to force upon the other. He knows of Childe's goal to conquer the world, his resolution in seeing the Tsarita's desires to be met through the end, and others that does not need to have a family on the side to look after for.
Zhongli thinks he does not fear, not exactly, but it comes close.
Something pokes his cheek. When he turns, he sees Childe holding a berry in hand. "You okay? Your scent just turned sour."
"I am alright." Zhongli clears his throat. If he does not say it today, he thinks he will not be able to say it tomorrow or the next until it cannot be hidden any longer. By then, his hormones would have spiked and he'd be more irrational than not in making decisions. He takes a deep breath.
There's no point in prolonging it. By doing so, Zhongli might never say it today.
He looks at Childe earnestly. Leaning closer, warm water splashes around them as he sits himself back down on the alpha's lap and cups the other's cheeks. There is surprise in those blue eyes, and a smile so reassuring but reluctant all the same that it makes Zhongli want to smother him with more kisses. Another deep breath and he pushes every thought aside aside from one.
"I am pregnant."
...
They stare into each other's eyes. He waits, with anxious patience, for any reaction from his mate aside from that state of shock. His nerves spike, his thoughts running faster than he can keep up with and it must be rolling off in waves as hands quickly rub his sides assuringly. Childe shakes his head lightly, smiling so bright that it blinds every negative thought Zhongli ever had.
Childe giggles, then that giggle gradually goes up and up until he's trembling in laughter. Zhongli blinks, squinting. "What?"
"Nothing –" Childe puts a hand to his face, looking away. "I don't know why I didn't – the signs were there–" He cuts himself off, grinning as though there was something so amusing in this situation.
Zhongli is not as patient these days. He pinches Childe's shoulder lightly. "What?" He repeats, lightly aggrieved. This is not the reaction he ever expected.
"I shouldn't have laughed." Childe laments, sighing as he looks up to the sky. "Sorry, I just don't know why I didn't think you'd be saying this to me today when I knew you wouldn't have prepared us to be here if you didn't have news to tell me."
Confused, Zhongli does not respond.
"I've known." Childe finally looks back directly into his gaze. His smile turns sweet, scent grounding. "Probably even before you knew it yourself. I was waiting for you to be ready to tell me. Was even bracing myself to tap into my old skills at marvelous acting once the time comes you can no longer physically hide it but isn't as willing to say it just yet."
Zhongli pulls back as far as he can where he's situated. He stares at the other's face, processing the information he's given. His brows furrows, mouth opening and closing in perplexity. He's know he was carrying at least two weeks in, and even then it shouldn't have been noticeable if he didn't know about it first.
Must have been the bond. Or how in tune Childe is with everything related to Zhongli.
"You..." Zhongli began, having difficulty in proceeding with his words. Yet, Childe waits. Regardless of how Childe knew before himself, those weren't the questions he needed the answers of. "You are not displeased?"
At this, Childe's face falls. "Why would I be? Displeased? How could I ever? Is this why you hesitated in saying it? Madame Ping has been trying to ask me what happened but–"
"Ping–?"
"This is a gift." Childe's palm flattens against Zhongli's stomach. "A gift from yourself, and should you choose to give it to me or not, I would not dare feel anything but pride and joy. Lili, you should know this by now."
Zhongli makes a noise of embarrassment at the back of his throat. He averts his gaze. "It is... not that. I am fully aware that you would be happy nonetheless, but... your future." It has been nagging at him. The whole entire thing had been mostly worrying over what he could be pulling Childe away from.
This gift requires responsibility and duty. It requires immense care and love and though he knows Childe can and will provide, he fears it may too soon for the Harbinger to settle down with a family.
"My future." Childe murmurs, incredulous. "What of it? Is my future not to be with you? Then that means I would not have a future at all."
"Don't speak like that." Zhongli hates how easily Childe talks about his own end. "Your goals, what you desire to achieve. Do you expect me to wait with our children? I could, but not for long. Having you away in a week is already difficult, what you're reaching for may take months. Months, Ajax. Or even years."
"What I'm reaching for?" The genuine curiosity in those eyes makes Zhongli feel even more frustrated. "What, the conquering the world thing? Lili, I don't think any world for me to conquer could ever equate to having you as my mate."
Zhongli is not convinced, though his heart stutters. "But–" He is cut off with a quick kiss on his lips.
"There is no but." Childe sighs. "I should have been more clearer. It was never my intention to make you worry or question whether or not my residency in Liyue is moreso of a vacation than it is an actual home." Gently, Childe holds his hand, placing a small kiss on his knuckles so reverently. That little pause allows Zhongli to breathe. To think, to ruminate without having his nerves making every thought bad.
Childe tilts his head, holding Zhongli's jaw so their eyes meet again. "Listen to me, okay?" Another kiss, this time on his cheek. "Where you are is where I will go. I will follow you to the end of time should you allow me so, that is my triumph. Do not make it seem as though you fall less in my priorities. What have I told you? You are important, if not even more than anything else. You are my mate, my first, my soul and heart."
"I will not be complete today if it were not for you." The palm on his stomach presses, careful and sweet. If he didn't know better, Zhongli might have thought Childe might be able to hear or feel something with how his expression softens as he looks down on it. "And this... our children, ours." His voice turns low, pleased and fond.
Childe looks up, smiling and ever so handsome. He murmurs, in the silence of the spring. "I don't think conquering any world can ever make me feel this satisfied."
Zhongli –
He's heart is incredibly full. So full it feels as though it is about to burst from the sheer adoration he feels for the man that holds him now. He is overwhelmed, his hormones are going haywire and with the way Childe's scent thickens around them, he knows his own must be overpowering it.
He presses his lips against the alpha's for a chaste kiss. "Take me." He kisses him again, longer, before he pulls away. "Right here. Now, my Ajax."
"Wait–" Childe, his dearest, pins him down by his arms. "Are you sure? You've been so careful not to ruin the waters with crumbs earlier–"
"It matters not to me if you fill this spring with your seed." Zhongli grinds down, smiling so happily. "It is different if it is from you."
To his absolute delight, Childe flushes. "You – gods, you really have a way with that mouth of yours."
Zhongli shakes himself away from that grip. Instead, he cups Childe's cheeks and stares at him lovingly. "You are perfect, even with what you deem to be the opposite." He aches, he craves and he wants everything that Childe will give him. "Make love to me here, my Ajax."
It has never been a lie to say Childe is perfect. "Alright." Childe responds with gentle fingers pressing against his mate mark on Zhongli's neck. "I'll be gentle."
Well, now that is a lie.
━━━━━━━━━━━━━━
"That is why..." Zhongli makes small circles, small doodles and randomized nonsense with his finger on his mate's bare chest. "You were not bothered with many of the changes in my body."
Childe hums sleepily. "No. And I'm not going to start being bothered about it now. Change all you want, zolotse, you won't get rid of me." He pats Zhongli's back, eyes closed as they marinate in their after glow.
Doing a very intimate intercourse in the spring was not one of Zhongli's best decision considering the predicament of his body as of the current. His body had hurt, not in pleasure. It would have been a terrible experience overall if Childe did not notice his discomfort and had suggested they go into his teapot rather than doing the extensive journey back down to their home as that requires having to pack and prepare to be seen in civilization.
Everything Zhongli was not willing to do then.
So, they settled here in the main bedroom of the mansion he's kept in his teapot. A comfortable bed rather than the stone scraping against his skin. It would have been an experience though, just not when he's carrying and his tolerance in everything is in disarray. He might suggest actually having the pleasure of the flesh in the spring once he's given birth and recuperated plenty.
Birth.
He is to give birth. His mate has accepted not only him, but as well as what is inside him. They will be loved, he swears. They will see the better world, to have the better world. And his alpha would be the greatest father to them, just as much as he is the greatest mate to Zhongli. They will be–
"My Ajax." He sits up abruptly, in shock that he had not mentioned this earlier. Alerted, Childe's eyes snaps open and he follows suit in their position. "My Ajax, oh my, I deeply apologize, I didn't –"
"What is it?" Childe's brows furrows in concern. "What? Are you okay? What is it?"
"The bab–" Zhongli is quick to emit his scent calmly at Childe's horrified expression. "They are fine. It is just that, it has come to my attention that I have failed to notice you of what may come." He settles him back down by pushing him on the bed. He wraps the covers around them, smiling down at the confused face those actions earned.
He nuzzles against the hand that rests against his cheek. "Within mortals, they carrier may only carry up to two at most, yes? I've heard of quadruplets, and even six babies at once but those are rare that it does not happen most of the time." Zhongli puts a hand to his chin. "I should warn you that what I will birth will not be... the babies themselves. Rather, in relative to my dragonic biology, I will be birthing eggs."
Childe blinks slowly, owlishly. "Uh, alright. Eggs, that's right."
Zhongli chuckles. "And I hope you would not mind if there is a chance I will give birth to more than five."
"More than five." Childe breathes out quietly. Zhongli would have worried if it weren't for the happy scent the alpha is releasing. "And... I can assume it wouldn't be like the nine months pregnancy?"
His mate learns swiftly, Zhongli purrs. "Indeed. Ten months they will be in my womb. Two months they shall incubate before they hatch. Though, it saddens me deeply that some of them will never hatch at all. There is also that possible chance." It had occured to him n I'llot long ago, how his adepti had not once said all the eggs they incubated hatched. Some had rotted, some had hardened into rocks, some they simply did the proper burial for their kind.
It is not farfetched to say Zhongli's would be the same.
"Hey–" Childe reaches for him, gathering him into his chest. "It's okay. It's alright. We'll get through it, hm? I'll be here every step of the way."
Zhongli releases a breath. "Yes." Purring louder, he cuddles against his mate. "You will be there."