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The way Scaramouche looked at him in that moment was positively vile.
It made Childe wonder if he wore a similar look when he tricked Signora, knowing the lies he spouted would lead to her demise, or if this was an expression he saved purely for the battlefield.
Not that he had much time to think about that. Their fighting had long ceased, yet Scaramouche showed no mercy even to an enemy that had already fallen. Without blinking, he kicked Childe in the stomach and dug his heel in hard to keep him from rolling further back into the destroyed warehouse.
It made him let out a choked cough, some blood trickling down his chin. The coldness of the wooden floorboards seeped into his skin from where they pressed against him, and Childe didn’t think he could move even if he tried.
Of course he was stubborn enough that he did try, which only resulted in his head being yanked back hard by his hair.
‘Are you done yet?’ Scaramouche spoke in a tone that could almost be described as bored. ‘Just stop struggling and admit you’ve lost already.’
‘Never…’ Childe brought out through gritted teeth. He was a warrior. He refused to admit defeat this easily.
‘All you’re doing is prolong your suffering.’ the other told him. ‘Is it really worth it? Is your honour truly worth all that pain?’
‘Don’t…talk to me about honour…when you betrayed the Harbingers without a second thought…’ Childe hissed, which only earned him another yank on his hair.
‘Your loyalty to the Tsaritsa is astounding.’ Scaramouche huffed. ‘What do you think it will accomplish? Will she save you? Will she reward you in death? You’re so pathetically naïve it makes my skin crawl.’
Before Childe could reply, he felt electricity running through his body again. The shock was immediate, making him scream out in agony. In reality, the electrocution likely only lasted a few seconds, but to him, it felt like hours. His own Hydro element now worked against him, his damp clothes only serving to increase the pain.
As the electricity faded, his body went limp, leaving him to the other’s mercy.
‘Mhh…I suppose I’m starting to take pity on you a little.’ Scaramouche murmured, dropping his head like that of a ragdoll. ‘You should feel flattered, really. I rarely grant this sort of kindness to my foes.’
Childe didn’t have it in him to respond. His vision was blurry, and his body felt like it didn’t even belong to him anymore. All he could do was wait to be finished off.
Scaramouche walked away from him, and under normal circumstances Childe would have used that opportunity to strike down his enemy. Turning your back to a foe was the stupidest thing you could possibly do.
Then again, they both knew he was in no position to fight any longer.
He was done for.
Childe wondered how his family would respond to the news.
Teucer would cry.
So would Tonia, and his mother. Anthon would probably try to cheer the others up, while his father would just sit there in silence. Maybe drown his sorrows with a bottle of liquor.
Perhaps the traveller and their floating friend would shed a few tears too. He’d like that. Not because he wanted to see them cry necessarily, but because the thought at least some people other than his family would miss him was a small comfort.
He wondered how Zhongli would feel upon hearing the news of his passing, which made his chest ache more painfully than he cared to admit.
To someone who had eternity, a fleeting life like his was worth very little. He was just another passing mortal, bound to be forgotten as the years went by. He’d been under the illusion that he’d meant something to Zhongli once upon a time, but that hope had been thrown out of the window the moment he’d learned the truth.
‘Feeling sentimental?’ Scaramouche snapped him from his thoughts. He was now standing before him once again, a katana in hand.
‘There was a glimmer of light in your eyes just now.’ he explained, kneeling down by his side. When he noticed Childe had averted his gaze to the sword, he scoffed.
‘I thought I’d give you a proper send-off, rather than frying your brain. A death befitting for a warrior.’ Scaramouche chuckled. ‘My final gift to you. Aren’t I kind?’
Just as Childe opened his mouth to say something, a stinging sensation went through his hand, making him gasp. It was almost like something was attempting to burn through his glove, making his skin ache.
Why would Scaramouche bother with hurting just his hand? If he wanted to cause pain, he’d already proven he had no problem inflicting it.
The burning sensation increased, and Childe let out a frustrated groan.
‘Already wailing in pain when I’m not even doing anything?’ Scaramouche mused. ‘Wow, I must have hurt you real good. Don’t worry, it won’t be much longer now.’
If this wasn’t Scaramouche’s doing, then what was it? Was his body falling apart on its own now? It wouldn’t surprise him, but this didn’t exactly feel like the familiar ache Foul Legacy caused him.
As the other man lifted the katana, Childe’s curiosity got the better of him, tugging his glove off with the help of a loose floorboard.
He caught the exact moment Scaramouche laid eyes upon it, the amused expression leaving his face immediately.
When his own eyes found the culprit for his burning hand, his breathing positively stopped.
A Geo Sigil.
Zhongli had put a Geo Sigil on him.
Time moved at a ridiculous pace in that moment.
With newfound strength he didn’t think he had in him, Childe reached for his hand, clamping down around the Sigil like a lifeline. He could feel the air blowing in his direction from where Scaramouche brought down the katana, though a pair of strong arms pulled him out of the way before it could so much as scratch him.
The katana dug into the very same spot on the ground where his hand had just been, yet Childe himself was now a significant distance away.
A tall figure was looming over him, shooting death glares in Scaramouche’s direction with so much rage burning behind those eyes that Childe was surprised the other hadn’t turned to dust yet.
‘Zhongli.’ he brought out, the pure shock rather evident in his voice.
‘Childe.’ the other spoke, holding on to him just the slightest bit tighter. ‘Apologies for my late arrival. I had expected the Sigil to reveal itself to you sooner.’
Childe let out a choked noise at those words. ‘How…? When did you even…?’
‘When we said our goodbyes at the harbour.’ the man admitted, looking down at him with a soft gaze that didn’t resemble the hateful glare he’d shown only moments before in any way whatsoever. ‘Given your reckless nature, I wanted my parting gift to you to be something that would protect you in dire situations. I do apologize for not informing you about it sooner, though.’
‘So that’s why you insisted on such a long handshake…’ Childe murmured, burying himself in Zhongli’s embrace. There was this sort of irresistible warmth and comfort to be found in it, and Childe couldn’t stop himself from wanting to sink into it further. It made his eyelids feel heavy and his brain go fuzzy in the best way possible. ‘And here I thought it was because you were going to miss me…’
‘Cut the sentimental crap.’ Scaramouche hissed, looking positively murderous. He’d managed to dislodge his katana from the floor again, now holding it in front of him in some pathetic form of self-defence.
A small grin snuck onto Childe’s face at the pathetic display. He knew like no other a measly little sword would in no way be enough to stop Zhongli from absolutely tearing his enemy to pieces.
‘Ah, right. I’d almost forgotten you were there.’ Zhongli spoke, standing up with Childe in his arms, as if he weighed nothing.
Childe could feel the drowsiness almost completely overtake him now, though perhaps that wasn’t so bad. With Zhongli here, things would be alright. He could close his eyes and fall asleep without any worries. Zhongli would solve everything for him.
‘Are you forgetting who’s the one with the gnosis here?’ Scaramouche exclaimed. ‘You’re not even an archon anymore, while I was made to be one!’
‘Ah, but that’s where you underestimate me.’ Zhongli spoke, and Childe could practically hear the smirk he wore.
‘I have slain countless of enemies even without my gnosis, Scaramouche of the Fatui. A measly creature like you…well. I wouldn’t exactly consider you a threat.’
Childe heard Scaramouche arguing that statement, voice sounding frantic and panicky, though the words no longer made sense to him.
‘Under normal circumstances, I would tell my enemies to prepare for facing the wrath of the rock.’ he heard Zhongli say. ‘In this case however, I think a mountain, or perhaps an earthquake would be more appropriate.’
And with those words, as well as the rumbling of the earth in the distance, Childe sank into his slumber, knowing things would be alright even if he did.
When Childe came to his senses again, the first thing he noticed was the warmth surrounding him.
His body still ached, but the comforting press of soft blankets helped ease the pain a little. That, and the gentle hold Zhongli had on his hand.
The other was sitting at his bedside with a concerned look on his face, though that expression shifted into one of relief the moment he noticed Childe’s eyes opening.
‘You’re awake.’ he stated softly.
‘Mhh…’ Childe replied, blinking a few times to try and get his vision to stop being so blurry. ‘Sort of.’
‘How are you feeling?’
‘Like I’ve been used as a punching bag for a Lawachurl…’ he murmured, daring to try and sit up a little. His muscles cracked as he went, but the pain could have been worse.
Considering he had never even expected to wake up again in the first place, he didn’t think he had a right to complain.
‘I see…’ Zhongli replied. ‘Well, I suppose that was to be expected…’
‘How long have I been out?’
‘About a week now. Your body needed the recovery time.’
‘Did you…did you do something funny?’ Childe asked, not quite letting go of the other’s hand just yet. ‘Everything feels fuzzy. I know I heal fast, but this is progress I’d usually make in a month, not a week.’
‘The adeptal energy certainly helped.’ Zhongli murmured, pointing at their entwined hands.
Only now did Childe notice the Geo Sigil was still there, glowing faintly. This time though, there was no burning or stinging, which was a lot more pleasant.
‘I apologize for not asking your permission first.’ Zhongli continued, looking almost guilty. ‘I’ve been somewhat of a coward when it comes to talking to you, I must admit. I’d been thinking about what to say, and about how to convey what I was feeling. But by the time I was getting close to figuring it out, it was time for you to leave already.’
Childe looked down at their entwined hands, and swallowed thickly.
‘I suppose saving my life is a pretty good way to start.’ he murmured. ‘If you hadn’t done what you did…I don’t think I’d have made it out of there in one piece. That kind of says a lot about what I mean to you.’
Zhongli hesitantly looked up to meet his gaze, making Childe chuckle softly.
‘I mean, my pride may be a bit hurt from having to be saved like some sort of damsel, but…well. I’d rather be alive, you know?’ he said, squeezing the other’s hand a little in reassurance. ‘So…thank you. For saving my life and everything.’
Thank you for caring about me enough, he didn’t say. He didn’t have to, though. He had a feeling Zhongli understood.
He’d worried Zhongli didn’t care about him. That to someone immortal, their time spent together didn’t mean all that much. That he was just a pastime; someone to be forgotten as the years went by.
Except he’d read him all wrong.
Childe had been so caught up in his own self-loathing he’d failed to see that which was right in front of him.
Zhongli didn’t take losses well.
He should have noticed from the way he still mourned the loss of his friend, centuries later. Or from the way he talked about the past at any given oppurtunity.
From the way he’d placed a Geo Sigil on him, so he could ensure his safety no matter how far apart they were.
‘I’m not going anywhere.’ Childe told him. ‘I promise.’
‘You know I highly value promises…’ Zhongli told him quietly. ‘They’re like contracts, after all. Are you sure you’re ready to make such commitments?’
‘I mean, I can’t exactly leave in this state, can I?’ Childe hummed, gesturing at his bruised body. ‘And after I recover…well. I’m sure you’ll find other ways to entertain me. Starting with a good brawl.’
‘I’ll undo all your recovery process in a second.’ Zhongli argued, but Childe merely grinned.
‘All the more reason for me not to go anywhere, hm?’
The other shook his head with a sigh, though Childe didn’t miss the small smile that played around his lips as he did.
As much as he may have been teasing, he’d meant what he’d said.
He wasn’t going anywhere.
If only because he quite liked the feeling of being cared for.