Chapter Text
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The cup is too far.
That is not a problem. One can simply stand up and pick the aforementioned far cup up from the far table and sit back down on the chair and continue reading the held book with it in hand. Sip it languidly, appreciate the sunset and its afterglow, and be grateful for the life he has now.
At least, on most days.
Today, the cup is too far and he is too tired. Physically, an adeptus will not be exhausted immediately, at least not from sitting in an office for long. It takes more than that, of course. However, one cannot say the same for the inside of the mind. It is different, as he's realized within his many years of living. It tugs on his weary bones, burdens his shoulders with a heavy weight, shackles him to this very chair where he cannot even lift his book to properly read it.
Staring at it would not lift the cup up, he is aware. Yet he cannot find it in himself to do the necessary movements in order to retrieve it. He does not know why he placed the table so far from the chair he sat down on earlier. He does not understand why it is difficult to do a simple act. A sigh escapes his lips as he closes the book, too annoyed to bother bookmarking where he stopped. He will remember anyway, it would not matter.
There is a moment of debate whether a short sleep would work wonders for him or not as he closes his eyes with another sigh. He leans his head back on the chair, contemplating his decisions an hour ago.
Citrus, crisp florals. Sharply invigorating.
Zhongli opens his eyes and sees the cup just hovering above his face. When he takes it, the sight is replaced with perfectly blue eyes and a wide grin.
"Ajax." There is relief imminent in his tone despite knowing where his beloved had come from was not of any danger. He cares no longer for the lukewarm tea in his hands as Ajax leans closer to place a gentle kiss on his forehead. "You are early."
"Hm, with Andrei returning from his sick leave, my work is cut in half." Childe kisses his cheek next, before slipping between the chair and the omega. Placing Zhongli neatly on his lap, Childe's grin widens further more. "Director Hu has told me to make sure you are well. She says you have been easily irritated by your recent clients."
Zhongli sips his tea innocently, blanching when he realizes it was too cold. "I seem to forget how impatient mortals can be. As a consultant and with more and more people from all over Teyvat visiting Liyue, I find more reason to be as understanding as I am. There are moments, however, where it slips." He allows Childe to nuzzle against his neck, "Worry not. Meditation and proper sleep can solve this."
"Hn." Childe pulls away, plucking the cup of half-drank tea from his hands and looks at Zhongli with a glint. "You have been awfully broody lately." He comments and Zhongli frowns quickly.
"I have not."
"Then, easy to upset?"
"I beg your pardon?"
"Last week." Childe hums, undeterred with Zhongli's deepening frown. "Last week when Xiao says he will visit Mondstadt for sometime, you got a little upset when he declined your invitation for dinner and sulked for the entire night. Two days after that, you snapped at Director Hu for her usual antics. Then the evening of the same day, you scolded me for something you normally do not."
Zhongli ruminates over those. With a never forgetting memory, he remembers exactly the details of every second it happens and flushes when he seems to realize what his mate has observed. It is not that he has grown more impatient as what he has described his recent customers for no reason at all – it is simply so that he had not taken into account that growing a living being inside him would drain his energy far too much even at this stage.
He's consulted mothers and many says it would be too soon before any signs shall appear, be it behavior or not. He should have not relied fully on their information, his biology is quite different after all.
"As I've said." Clearing his throat, he places both of his hand each on Childe's cheeks. "I need only meditation and sleep." He squeezes them gently, before letting go and drops his hands on the alpha's shoulders instead.
Childe stares at him, face void of any indication of something. Zhongli meets this gaze, curious. It takes a few more seconds before Childe's smile turns sweeter, "Alright. Have you had dinner? Let us eat then go to sleep early. Is that amendable, my love?"
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"Ah." There's a breath of exasperation leaving his lips as he kneels down to pick up the porcelain shards of a vase. It had been a beautiful one, though not one of age. A new item his mate had bought from an auction. He feels guilty, seeing it broken like this.
Even with the knowledge of fixing it with gold, the irritation doubles when he accidentally pricks his finger. The small wound heals before blood can drip and still, he stares at it as though it had done him many wrong.
"You okay?" Childe, his ever so understanding beloved, kneels in front to continue the cleaning process. "Lili?"
"It healed." Zhongli mutters, and with the shards he picked up, he stands to place it on the table. "Do not put them in the trash, I shall fix it when I have time."
Childe inclines his head, "I can commission a different artist–"
"You doubt me?" He turns toward his mate, eyes sharp, "I have you know that though my skills are not as refined and as polished as theirs, I've learned and have experienced many of–" Zhongli cuts himself off, noticing how harsh his tone is. He looks at Childe and Childe looks at him.
The alpha tilts his head, amused. "Okay." In comparison, Childe's tone is gentle and reassuring. "I'll leave it to you then, hm? Should you need any help, know I am willing."
Childe is too good, Zhongli muses as he inclines his head and turns to leave in a rush. Flustered and embarrassed as he is, he cannot help but feel warmed that in spite of his abrupt mood changes, his mate does not seem to be bothered by such.
He can only hope, as he breathes to himself in the safety of the bathroom and places his hand on his fairly flat stomach, that Childe's patience will last until he finds the courage to tell him the truth.
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The sight of the sun rising is mesmerizing. It promises the beginning of the day, the noise of the Harbor already echoing through the cracks of his windows. The rays are faint through its determination to push through spaces and crevices from where it came from in order to enter his humble chambers.
Waking up warm and loved makes the morning even better than it would have in his state. The arms are firm around him, the chest pressed against his back an indication that his beloved mate is safe and alive and that he's here and not wherever the Tsarita wishes her Vanguard to be all around Teyvat. The latter is less common now that they have an established relationship, and Childe asking if he can be stationed indefinitely in Liyue to manage banks and diplomatic matters between the North and the South. A fine decision, one that makes Zhongli melt in sheer adoration for the efforts his chosen alpha is willing to make in spite of its sacrifices.
"You smell sweet."
Voice deep with the remnants of sleep, Childe nuzzles against his neck. "Very sweet."
"Mn, I would be worried if I do not." Zhongli is an omega and though omegas do not necessarily have to have a sweet scent, there's an undertone of it in their specified smell. "Good morning, Ajax."
Childe inhales sharply, "No, you smell sweeter than usual. Like–" He does it again and Zhongli shivers. "Like you doused yourself with syrup."
Zhongli understands. Perhaps, he really should have not trusted that his body would function the same way it does with humans. Despite being told otherwise, this body of his is already gradually transitioning to accommodate another living person inside him even if he was not showing as of yet.
He turns around, seeing Childe's pupils blown wide a little. "Really?" He feigns thinking, "Or are you simply nearing your cycle?"
"It just ended two weeks ago." Childe smiles lazily, leaning closer. "If I didn't know any better, I'd think you want a repeat of those events."
Zhongli's cheeks burn, and he slaps Childe's bare chest with a huff. "Rascal." He averts his gaze. He says this and yet he does not deny his mate when those hands slowly turn sensual. Lowering and lowering to grasp at his intimate parts.
A breath escapes his lips. "Was last night not enough?" Zhongli feels himself manhandled, the alpha hovering above him with clear intent.
"That was for last night's stress." Childe nibbles on his neck, "This one is for today's slow morning."
"You are insatia – ah!"
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Zhongli watches, confused and entertained, as Childe puts every possible food on the table on Zhongli's plate as though he's ever said he was starving. As though he needed to even eat, as though he had not tasted everything here already.
One should not misunderstand however, he is ever so happy and willing to eat it. Without the need to eat, his body has adapted to that of not filling ever full. Satiated, of course, but not what mortals always described they would be after a heavy meal. Still, it leaves him at lost once Childe does not deem the little mountain on his plate enough and reaches for more of the dumplings.
"Ajax."
Childe does not turn to look, his skills in the usage of chopstick increasing exponentially as he places the dumpling on what little space the plate has on the side, "Yes, sweetheart?"
"I have you know that you cannot..." Zhongli thinks of the word Hu Tao has used once, "Fatten me up unless I will it so."
"I know." Childe sits down, whatever conquest he had been doing has reached its end and the alpha is left pleased with himself. "You need to eat more compared to before, even if you are an Adeptus. It helps with the nourishment."
Zhongli tilts his head, "Nourishment?"
Childe gives him that look with a glint in his eyes, one that he's been doing ever since that day he found Zhongli sulking over his unreachable cup of tea. "Yes, food is nourishment, is it not?" He smiles, reaching over to pour them their chosen drinks for the day. "Would you like dessert? Or any food in particular after this?"
"Had I been human, I would have complained that my stomach would burst." Zhongli shakes his head, lips quirked up as he began to think about handling this amount of food. It satisfies him greatly, however, that his alpha truly is embodying the role of a provider. A good mate, Zhongli wants to purr in delight. He lifts up the stir fry meat first, "What has gotten into you?"
"I don't know." Childe sips from his cup innocently, "What's gotten into you?"
Zhongli blinks, even more perplexed. "I don't understand." He says this even when he knows exactly what is inside himself as of this moment. He keeps his mouth sealed about it in particular, still uncertain and still admittedly scared. "Unless you would like to enlighten me."
Childe simply widens his smile.
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Morning sickness has been one of the many that he's been warned about the most. It starts at the beginning of the nine grueling months and would gradually lessen as weeks goes by but nonetheless one of the most remarklable moments for first time mothers.
Zhongli was prepared. He's spent meticulous hours searching about his own kind and about his adepti's pregnancies, especially with those of humans. He recalled Yanfei's parents and how she came to be, how there was no trouble at all. It passed, as would every obstacle. He remembers them complaining how the duration went on even as one month passed and Zhongli concluded it must be because of the non-human energy.
He was just not expecting it to be this soon.
"Water?" Childe's soothing scent relaxes him a little as he slumps against his mate, "Let's rinse your mouth, I know how you are with a clean mouth. Come on."
With a little difficulty, Zhongli's lips meets that of the cup and gurgles the water before spitting it out with a grimace. His stomach feels odd, he feels strangely weak and it is one of those times where he's proud of himself for choosing a mate like Childe as he feels arms wrapped around him, carrying him back toward the bed where he ran from earlier. He sighs, deep and agonizing as he's tucked and kissed until he no longer feels as upset.
"You think you can eat something light?" Childe murmurs, heedful of the omega's headache as he runs his fingers through Zhongli's hair. "Porridge?"
"Hn."
"I'll be back." Childe kisses his cheek, then his horns that Zhongli did not even know has sprouted before the warmth of his mate leaves and still, that calming scent lingers.
It occurs to him, months later, that Childe had not been confused of his sudden morning sicknesses.
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"How are you, my dear friend?"
Zhongli sits down, eyes lingering on the woman before him. He is not one to judge another person's appearance, nor is he one to stare. He's learned after a while in his thousands of years of age that staring meant a challenge or judgement, neither one pleasant for humans. And yet, he does it so now much more so in nostalgia and wonder. "How long has it been since you have been in this form?" He returns, not answering the question given to him just yet.
Ping, young and bright as she once was hundreds of years ago, chuckles. "I ask that to myself as well." She pours them both tea, "But alas, it has come to mind that should I meet you, I will be in this form. I would rather be able to take care of you faster and more efficient than take unnecessary risks. Therefore, the old woman in the terrace must be at rest or vacation for now."
"Hm." Zhongli accepts the tea, "I am grateful for your foresight. However, is it not too early? I find that I am still able to move and function normally."
"In this very second, yes." Ping inclines her head, humming. "But the next? The next hour? The next day? Surely you do not think I can simply snap a finger and your beloved mate will appear? Had that been possible, I would have not bothered to be young again."
Zhongli smiles, "Do not fret. Do I not tell you everything that I feel?" He asks, "We both may not be healers, but we have some experience."
"Yes, but, my friend–" Ping sighs, "Would it not be better to be well prepared? Although we have records of adepti bearing the child of that of a human, it is still different with you." She points at his stomach.
"And we do not have records of you getting pregnant."
"Alright." Acquiescing to ease her worries, Zhongli emits a calmer scent to linger amongst the adeptal energy in the air inside Ping's teapot. Leaning against his chair, he releases a breath. "It had... been an eventful week. I fear at this point my cravings would come sooner than we both anticipated as well."
"Mn, it has been developing quite fast, isn't it?" Ping smiles, "The energy remains the same, it has not developed any different from before nor did it increase size. Perhaps, it is your body itself? It is of male, even if you are an omega."
Zhongli sees her point, "Though male omegas can get pregnant as would women, it might be not the same for me due to my lineage." He nods, putting a hand on his chin. "Would it be easier and safer to shift into a woman, then?"
"We can attempt." Ping agrees, clasping her hands on her lap. "If not much changes, then we can conclude that it must not be the vessel but something else. Is it eating away at your qi?"
"I am uncertain." Zhongli has not thought about that. He's grown more tired lately, that is one thing. To say that the yet to be baby inside his womb is eating his spiritual energy is another. He should take note of it for next time. "I will update you a week from now of any difference."
Ping inclines her head slowly, "And... what will you say to the father of the child, my friend?"
Zhongli makes a face, "Ajax..." He sighs again, "I will tell him someday." He leaves it at that and Ping does not question him, not anymore after the many times she did and Zhongli simply offered the same answers.
Childe would be a good father, if not the best. He would be great as a role model. He is kind, caring, patient and understanding. It is not that he would fail in that aspect that Zhongli is reluctant about – quite the opposite, in fact. He looks forward to it.
But current circumstances...
He clears his throat and is unashamed to be blatant with his refusal to deal with the topic, "Have you heard that Xianyun has broken yet another vase?"
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The urge to release whatever he's eaten the night before through his mouth every morning is one of the most obnoxious and exhausting events Zhongli has experienced ever since stepping down as an Archon.
It does not come easy. He's only a little happy that he manages to reach the bathroom every time as he would not wish upon his beloved to clean the mess he would otherwise make even if Childe will not utter any complaint. Adjusting is difficult, for he's always looked forward waking up in the morning. Now, he thinks it might be better to stay up all night to have more time to anticipate this dreaded sickness.
"Okay?"
Zhongli clutches his middle, a weak whimper leaving his lips as a hand runs up and down his back in gentle motions. Childe holds his hair up, away from the chaos in front. He shakes his head in response, gagging as he prepares to vomit again but nothing comes. He spits out bile, however, and grimaces at the bitter aftertaste. He feels sick, his body heat higher than usual and it is almost as though he's having a fever. Which is odd because he's an adeptus, and they don't get fevers.
He worries, mostly for the developing being inside him, as he's not sure if this is normal.
"Lili?" Childe tilts his head down, meeting his half-lidded gaze and Zhongli groans. "I'll carry you back, is that okay?"
Zhongli shakes his head lightly.
"Okay." Childe's voice is quiet, almost inaudible. There is movement from his peripheral vision and it takes Zhongli five seconds before realizing Childe has positioned himself to be more comfortable. "I'll wait. Tell me if you need something. I have water here."
Zhongli does not respond in any way. He merely sits there, processing his situation. Childe's scent is soothing, but it does no aid for the cramps he feels even before he can open his eyes. It helps, however, that it makes this experience much more easier than it would have been had he been alone.
Childe is there for every step of the way, every hindrance, every obstacle, every miniscule problem. Always there to lend help and had Zhongli already not carrying, he'd have asked the alpha if the omega can bear the fruit of their love.
"Ajax." Reaching out, Childe is quick to catch him as he allows himself to fall into the arms of his beloved. The scent of citrus and sharp florals engulfs his entire being and he relaxes, "Mn, Ajax."
"Can I move you?" Childe whispers, leaning down, "It would not be comfortable for you to lay like this."
And Zhongli trusts his beloved with all his heart.
"Do as you wish."
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"You need to eat more."
Zhongli looks up from the paper he's been reading, then looks back down at the plate of sliced fruits placed in front of him. He sighs, "That implies I need to eat." Happily, he takes a cut apple anyway. "Of which I do not."
"You don't eat breakfast anymore, even if it's simple soup." Childe ignores his words, pulling up the chair and sits on it with a thoughtful look. "It's not good to eat a lot at night either, unless you're going to burn through it if we have sex–"
"Ajax–"
"So, I've come up of a plan." Childe flashes him a proud grin, "I'll make sure you eat throaughout the day. One or two hours interval. Small snacks to big meals, perhaps. Like this plate of fruit and then you'll eat a meal for lunch. Would you like one from Wanmin?"
Zhongli gazes at the aforementioned plate, chewing on a sunsettia. It is very sweet, perfectly riped. "And what has brought this on?"
"Details." Childe waves a hand, shrugging. It leaves Zhongli even more curious but does not question it. It is harmless to be on the receiving end of such an innocent quest to make sure he is fed, and Zhongli likes eating. "Is that agreeable, my love?"
"If that is what you wish." Zhongli hums, taking more of the apple. "I thank you for taking care of me."
"As I should be as your mate." Childe holds out his hand and Zhongli lays his palm on top of it. "You should not worry for anything else. Allow me to give you everything you may want and need. I only ask that you tell me should you feel any discomfort so I may ease it. Promise me."
Zhongli feels the hand holding his tighten firmly, "Ajax, there is already many that needs your attention. I am not fragile nor am I invalid. Small aches –"
"Zhongli." Childe interjects, not unkindly. But his tone leaves naught for disagreement. "Promise me."
"Hn." Zhongli smiles sweetly, even emitting his scent further. "Would you promise me the same?"
If Childe is taken aback with the return of his own question, he does not show it. Instead, he releases a breath that makes Zhongli feel as though he was but a stubborn child. "Alright. I promise you I will be honest. Now do it as well."
It is always so charming how easy it is for Childe to succumb to Zhongli's silly whims. So, he entertains his lover. "I promise that every little thing I feel in this chosen body of mine, I will tell you." He lifts the hand still tightly gripping his and kisses it affectionately, if to comfort the other.
"Good." Childe squeezes his hand one more time before finally releasing it. Zhongli takes this chance to eat more fruit. "I have oil that may relieve some headache if you need it in the morning. I'll get Wanmin for lunch and bring it here."
"I can move and walk." Zhongli huffs, quickly chewing the fruit in order to speak more of what he thinks about this. "Do not make it seem that I cannot be independent, Ajax."
"Sure."
"Ajax." Zhongli emphasizes, standing up when the alpha is already walking toward the door. "Do not–" He frowns, a little upset in that short span of time. Yet he cannot act upon it immediately when he gets dizzy, mind spinning upon the immediate stretch of his legs that he stumbles and grabs hold of the side of the table not to fall.
There's an arm pulling him to a sturdy chest immediately, and he leans against it with a breath of shock as Childe brushes a hand through the locks of his hair. "Low iron?" He hears the other ask to himself before he's being gently settled back on to his chair. Childe kneels in front of him, worry in those blue gaze once clarity returns to Zhongli once more. "You shouldn't stand up so quick–"
"If you did not ignore me and my opinion on this, I wouldn't have to." Zhongli snaps, irritated as he massages his temples. "To have you be so focused on whatever it is you want to do is alright, but to have you not acknowledge my words is plain disrespect."
"... I'm sorry."
"Don't do it again." Zhongli sighs, feeling moreso tired than exasperated as he cups Childe's cheeks. His frown remains, but he truly cannot be mad at his mate for long. "Understood?"
Childe smiles softly, "Yes, I'm sorry." His tone is quiet, "I didn't mean to. I guess I got too far in my head of the things I wanted to do to make sure you're well taken care of that I... you're right, I shouldn't have ignored you. I'm really sorry."
"Forgiven." Zhongli pats those cheeks, "If you kiss me."
A laugh, one cut off once the omega gets too impatient and pulls the other up, kissing the alpha himself.
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Zhongli wakes up aching.
At first, she simply thinks that it's an early sign of her morning sicknesses. She waits then, staring at the ceiling. When nothing comes, she frowns deeply and pulls herself up to sit. Looking down beside her, Childe is fast asleep. Zhongli wishes not to wake her mate up. Childe had been busy with more paperwork lately in the bank and has not had proper sleep in a while.
But the aching does not disappear. Her teeth hurt for something to chew on and she thinks many times for the warm, seafood stew she's always been averse to from Xinyue Kiosk. She wonders, as she slowly stands up, if the restaurant is open at this hour. Surely, it is? It is morning, though daylight has not peaked through as of yet. Xinyue Kiosk tends to open even before dawn for the early tourists wishing to hike up mountains and reach the top before sunrise.
She walks quietly and quickly, tying the night robes tightly around her figure and opts not to change. There would not be many out and about and she would simply need to go to Xinyue Kiosk and come back and eat it. It would be ten minutes at most, if she does not get distracted.
Slipping on her footwear, she takes the keys hanging on to the bedroom doorway before silently walking down the hall. Zhongli takes this time to pat herself down for any spare mora. She had not once ordered that particular dish, so she's not entirely sure how much it would actually be.
It is an innocent thought to think she will not wake her soldier of a mate even if she was stealthy in her movements. When one spends time having to sleep with one eye open in the field, one tends to adapt to such scenario even in safe places. There's a hydro tendril wrapping around her wrist and ankle, and Zhongli sighs to herself as she turns to see Childe yawning, leaning against the wall of the hall.
"Where are you going?"
"I will come back as soon as possible." Still, she opens the main door and tries to get the hydro tendrils off only for it to wrap farther on to her arm and leg. "Ajax, please remove these."
Childe does not seem to want to do so, "You're going out like that?" He asks, face twisted. "Are you even wearing something underneath?"
Zhongli looks down at herself, then realizes, quite embarrassingly so, that she is not. She dons on only her night robe. "No one will notice." She tries, anyway. "You should go back to sleep."
"Lili, come here." It is not so much of a request than it is a demand, she finds. The tendrils tug on her until she's but an arm's length away from her mate. Childe does not look pleased. Added that with the lack of sleep, he looks – in Hu Tao's preference of description – pissed. "What did I tell you? What did you promise me last time?"
Zhongli tuts, "You are being ridiculous. I am a grown adult. If I want to eat seafood stew specifically from Xinyue Kiosk in the morning, I will do so. It is not as though I will put myself in harm's way."
Childe's expression melts almost immediately at her words, softening into an amused smile that Zhongli wants to feel offended. "That includes your cravings." Childe says this as though he's only realized it now. "Come on, sit there, I'll get it for you."
"I can get it myself."
"Not in that robe, you are not." Childe's hydro tendrils slithers away as she is led to the kitchen. "I can see your ass, your shape and even what shouldn't be seen by outsiders." To emphasize, his hands squeezes her chest momentarily before letting go. He sighs, kissing her on the forehead before stepping away and grabbing the jacket laid upon the back of the sofa.
Right as he was to leave, Childe turns back, "What stew were you thinking of, sweetheart?"
Zhongli bites her lip, "The... the..." To think of it and ordering it on her own is less shameful, now she thinks it's embarrassing to crave something she's openly hated before.
And still, Childe is not deterred. "I'll order both, okay?"
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"I was seconds away from following you."
Childe closes the door with a snort, "Yeah, I can smell it." When he approaches, Zhongli cannot help herself and reaches up to encircle her arms around his neck. She nuzzles against his scent gland, loving the way the alpha is quick to submit to her silent demands and emits more of his scent until it is the only thing she can smell.
Well, that and the food she hears is placed on the table.
"I ordered the one with the octopus and one without." Childe is heavens sent, she concludes. Loudly kissing his cheek, she detangles herself away from him to inspect the stew. "Is this what you were craving for?"
"Yes." Her eyes brighten at the sight, yet her mind bemoans the thought of putting that tentacle inside her mouth. Her stomach growls, her head hisses. "Thank you, Ajax."
Childe kisses the top of her head, "Always, zolotse."