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Faint rustling was the first thing that Ajax hears as he rouses from sleep. The sound seemed to be coming from in front of him. His brows furrowed as he tried to think who could be in his nest as the other occupant of the room was behind him, holding his waist. As if reading his thoughts, the intruder started patting his face with tiny hands.
Ah. Of course.
Ajax slowly cracked his eyes open and his blue eyes met with dazzling bright green eyes of his baby. Yue let out a happy coo at finally managing his mother before trying to burrow himself into Ajax’s arms. Ajax let out at huff of laughter as he brought his son close to his chest.
“Good morning to you too, my little prince. What’s got you up so early today?” Ajax asked as he nuzzled into his son’s hair. Yue let out a delighted giggle as he patted his mama’s face.
“Mama. Mama.” Ah. Yue’s most favorite word, just right after gege. Ajax let out a sigh of content and smiled softly as he felt movement from behind him. Looks like they woke up the sleeping dragon.
“Ajax? Baobao? What are you two doing up?” a groggy voice asked. Ajax carefully turned both himself and Yue around so they could both face Zhongli. Ajax’s heart filled with warmth as he watched his mate blinking awake and their son patting his father’s face with a soft ‘Pa’ after each pat.
“Good morning, laogong. Our little prince seems to be energetic this morning,” Ajax replied, “I wonder how he got in though. I thought he was sleeping with Xiao in his room last night.” As soon as he finished his sentence, the door to their bedroom opened with a bang and a disheveled Xiao ran in with a panicked look.
“I don’t know what happened! Yue was gone when I woke up and I…couldn’t..find…him,” Xiao started before trailing off at the end when he saw his delighted little brother in the nest with their parents. Xiao let out a sigh before tired walking over to the nest and dropping his body beside Zhongli.
Ajax reached over and patted his oldest son’s hair in comfort. Zhongli meanwhile looked over their smiling youngest as he tried to figure out how on Earth he managed to get in.
“We might have to keep an eye on Yue in case he’s been teleporitng from one place to another.” Xiao lifted his head to look at Ajax with a look of horror. “He can teleport now?”
“Just as a precaution. You never know,” Zhongli replied as he took Yue from Ajax’s arms and plopped him onto Xiao’s back. Yue proceeded to pat Xiao’s hair with a giggle. Xiao let out a quiet groan before dropping his head again into the nest of pillows.
Ajax huffed out a laugh as he got up from the nest along with Zhongli. “Alrihgt. Since we’re all awake now, how about I go and make some breakfast?” Ajax asked as he stretched. Zhongli placed a hand on the back of his waist as he gave his mate a kiss.
And oh did that kiss woke him up. Nothing beats waking up with his family and a kiss from his husband. Life is good.
“How about I make breakfast today, baobei? And you just rest along with the boys in the nest.” Zhongli said with a smile filled with warmth and affection towards Ajax. Ajax raised a brow at those words.
“Oh. I guess I will then,” Ajax replied as he lied back down on the nest where Yue scrambled to climb back up to his chest and Xiao curled up next to him. “Don’t take too long though. The boys and I will miss you dearly,” he continued in a sing-song voice. Zhongli chuckled as he left the room to go prepare breakfast for his family. As Zhongli left, Ajax couldn’t help but ponder at the feeling he was forgetting something.
Eh. It was probably nothing.
THIS IS A LINE BREAK
After breakfast, Ajax and his sons both waved Zhongli goodbye as the ex-Archon went to work. Xiao then told Ajax that Kong and him had plans for the day and that he would be back in the evening. After a hug and a sloppy cheek kiss from Yue, Xiao waved the two goodbye before going to meet up with Kong, leaving both Ajax and Yue alone.
“Well, its just us two now, Yue. What say we go to town and get some groceries, hmm?” Ajax cooed as Yue’s answer was to blow bubbles. Ajax brought Yue closer gave his baby a big smooch on the cheek which was received with delight as Yue tried to copy his Mama.
Ajax laughed as he got the two ready for a trip to town. A mommy and baby day. Once they were town, they were greeted warmly by the citizens of Liyue.
“Aiya, gongzi. You and your son are looking more radiant today.”
“Master Childe! We just received a new batch of Jueyun Chilies this morning! Here have some!”
“Ah, master Childe! Please do come over some time for tea and storytelling. A-Yi has been waiting to hear more of your stories.”
And so on and so forth. Ajax really does love his husband’s nation. The one where he raised lovingly and protected it from any harm to come to it in the past. Yue was hiding his face in Ajax’s chest to escape from the countless pinching aunties. Ajax and storekeeper both let out coos at the adorableness of Yue. Ajax laughed as he waved goodbye to the storekeeper before making his way to the funeral parlour for a quick visit to his husband.
As he walked in, he waved a hand to Ferrylady and helped wave Yue’s pudgy hand to her. Ferrylady waved back with a smile on her at the duo and gestured to Zhongli’s office. “Mister. Zhongli is currently doing paperwork and Master Hu Tao is badgering him.”
“So business as usual?” Ajax teased as Yue gurgled in his arms. Ferrylady nodded with a smile and waved to Yue as they passed. Knocking on the door, he received a confirmation and walked in to what appears to be Hu Tao trying to give Zhongli another headache judging by the way Zhongli had his head down and massaging the ridge between his brows.
Yue let out a shriek of joy as soon as his eyes laid on Zhongli. Zhongli’s head snapped up and as if the sight both his wife and child energized him, a bright smile took over his face,
“Ajax. Yue.”
“Hello, laogong. Hope we didn’t disturb anything important,” Ajax said with a teasing smile as he handed a happy baby to his husband. Zhongli rapidly shook his head with a strained smile.
“Of course you did not, baobei! Master Hu was just updating me on the newest customer coming to the parlour later.” Behind him, Hu Tao stuck her tongue out at him in a childish fit. Ajax stifled a chuckle and watched fondly over his husband giving their son kisses all over his face while Yue shrieked in joy everytime each kiss landed on soft chubby cheeks.
“Uh huh. Thought we should drop by and invite you out for lunch later on,” Ajax sadi with a smile. Zhongli stopped his kissing mission and beamed at his wife while his son frowned at him and was patting his face.
“Of course, baobei. I would love nothing more than to spend time with you two.” Ajax gave his husband a soft smile and leaned down to give him a peck on the lips before grabbing Yue back to his arms.
“Well, we wouldn’t want you to miss your meeting so we’ll be off on our way,” he teased as he readjusted his fussy baby to rest on his chest. Yue immediately quitened down as soon as he heard his mother’s heartbeat.
Zhongli looked pained at the thought of his family leaving but he nodded gloomily in acceptance with a despondent sigh. “You are right. I will see you both later at Wanmin for our lunch.”
“Its a date, xiangsheng,” Ajax said with a wink. He lifted one of Yue’s pudgy hand to Zhongli as Yue lifted his head up to look at his father. “Say bye-bye to papa, a-Yue.” Yue turned sharply towards his mother and slowly looked at his father with glistening eyes.
Oh Celestia! He’s adorable!, were the thoughts from all three occupants in the room.
Yue looked as if he wouldn’t see his father again in his baby mind. He sniffed and shakily waved at Zhongli. “Bye-bye, Papa,” were the soft words uttered by the baby in Ajax’s arms before he rapidly turned back to his mother’s chest.
Ajax cooed at him as he patted his baby’s back in comfort meanwhile the other two were holding back their tears at the sight of the young adeptus being strong of not being able to see his father for another few more hours.
“Aww, baby. It’s okay. We’ll see papa later for lunch,” Ajax cooed and smiled when his baby nodded and tried to wipe his eyes.
“Ahh…Little Prince. You’re making me feel like the bad guy who’s locking up the emperor,” Hu Tao whined as she pouted at the baby. Yue gave her a similar pout but his was accompanied by a glare. Ajax laughed and gave his baby’s bum a pat before waving to the two as he made his way to the door with baby in his arms.
“See you later, xiansheng!”
Yue pooped his over his shoulder with still glistening eyes and a bright smile.
“See you, papa! Bye bye, mean jiejie!” Ajax let put another laugh when he heard the squawk of outrage from Hu Tao and Zhongli letting out a bark of laughter as he waved to his mate and son.
“I’ll see you both tonight!” were the last words Ajax heard before the door closed behind them. Ajax turned to stare at the door with a confused look.
Tonight?
-THIS IS A LINE BREAK-
Lunch rolled around pretty quickly and while everything seemed normal, Ajax picked up npretty quickly that the Liyue citizens were treating him more warmly than normal. While it is a welcoming thought, he was confused on what he did to warrant it today.
A soft pat on his cheek brought him out of his musings. He turned to face his son who had a wondering look on his face. Ajax hummed as he gently took hold of the tiny hand that was patting him.
“Hm? What is it, my darling prince?” Ajax asked his son before placing a kiss on the palm of his son’s hand. Yue gave his mama a smile and asked, “We see Papa now?” Ajax chuckled as he made their way to Wanmin where the man who stole his heart was probably waiting for him.
“Yes, baby. We go see Papa now.” Yue squealed in happiness at the answer.
As the two reached Wanmin, true to his predictions, Zhongli had already arrived and had already gotten them a table along with their orders. As their gazes locked onto each other, both gave the other a soft smile filled with love. Reaching the table, Ajax’s smile dropped in shock as he took in what his husband ordered.
A Prized Catch. His favourite food.
He snapped his gaze back to Zhongli who was still smiling as he reached over to take their baby into his arms. Once in his father’s hold, Yue immediately started babbling to his father on what they did for the past few hours. Ajax didn’t drop his gaze on Zhongli as he also took a seat across from him. He was still stunned at the fact that his seafood averse husband had ordered his favourite dish.
Zhongli chuckled at the shocked look on Ajax’s face. “Dig in, baobei. Miss Xiangling said that it is on the house.” if anything, that just shocked Ajax even more. “Is there something going on that I know about? Is it a special day or something?” he asked. Somehow, the question amused his husband.
“Think,” was his answer. “But first, eat. I don’t think our little prince will be willing to wait.” True to his word, Yue was already reaching for a steaming bao that was bigger than his hand with a slight line of drool running down his mouth. Ajax and Zhongli hurriedly took action and hurriedly fed their son while also feeding their son.
Throughout lunch and even after waving Zhongli off back to work, Ajax was still ruminating on his husband’s word on what he thought what today was.
-THIS IS A LINE BREAK-
As Ajax made his way back home with a slumbering baby on his chest, he pondered over today’s events. The aunties and grannies were usually generous with him over their wares but today seemed to be more. He had also met Xinyan and Yunjin, both whom he had said hello to before the two rushed to go somewhere with hushed whispers. He also saw Xinqiu, Chongyun and Gaming who were on a hurry to get to someplace. Even Xiangling had disappeared after the little family’s lunch at Wanmin.
This is such a weird day he thought as he made his way to the front door with the setting sun behind him. He carefully maneuvered his baby as he took the keys out of his pockets. Insering the key into the lock, he could make out hushed whispers from behind the door and giggling. Feeling confused and slightly tense, Ajax felt himself go rigid at the thought that someone had broken into his house. His domain. His nest.
Taking a deep breath, he slowly opened the door while bracing himself for a fight. As soon as took a glance into the room, he was immediately surprised by the sound of a party popper.
“SURPRISE! HAPPY BIRTHDAY!”
In the house were all the young adults that he saw today and his best friends from all different nations. All of them were holding party poppers and were wearing party hats on their heads with big grins on their faces except for Xiao who had a soft smile on his.
He was so surprsed that it took a moment to realize what they all said.
“Wait. Birthday?”
A hand placed on the back of his waist had his head snapping up to the side where he came face to face with his husband. Zhongli chuckled as he comforted a fussy Yue who was woken up by the loud noises.
“Yes, my love. Your birthday,” he said as he gave a kiss to his husband. All of it now made sense. From the nice aunties and grannies to the free meal at Wanmin’s to the young adults’ rushing to get to somewhere. It was his birthday.
“Oh my Archons. I completely forgot,”: he breathed out in awe at both the fact that he forgot his birthday and at the fact that his friends, husband and son keeping his surprise a secret.
“LET’S GET THIS PARTY!” Hu Tao hollered as she bounded up from behind Zhongli in excitement and into the house. Xiao walked over to the two and gave Ajax a hug.
“Happy birthday, Mother. Please enjoy the party, I’’l watch over didi.,” he said before swiftly taking his curious little baby brother out of Ajax’s arms and walked over to where Kong was at. The two watched as Kong cooed over Yue who immediately tried to reach out to his earring.
Aajx looked back over to his husband with a soft look onm his face.
“Did you plan all of this?”
“Well, I had a little help. Yue was very adamant to have seaconches as decorations on the cake,” Zhongli said with a smile aimed to his husband. Ajax could not believe how lucky he was to have this man appear in his life. After their ups and downs, he could not believe that he could have this.
“I love you so much,” he said with a watery smile. Zhongli returned his smiled and placed their foreheads together.
“And I love you. Thank you, Ajax. For being born into this world and for being in mine. Thank you for giving me a wonderful baby. Thank you for being you. When you came to Liyue, I would have never thought that I would have fallen is love with that rascal hailing from Snezhnaya but I did. And I’m grateful for it for it led me to you.”
Okay. Wow. Ajax would have never thought that he would ever be a blubbering mess of tears again since his wedding but guess he’s proven wrong when you have a husband like Zhongli. Zhongli smiled at the tears that were running down his husband’s face and gently wiped the tears away before kissing him.
“Shall we go and celebrate your birthday, my love?” he asked as he gestured to the party. Ajax gave a shaky smile and nodded his head.
“Yes. Let’s go.”