Chapter Text
"So you're just gonna do nothing?"
Venti slams his hands on Zhongli’s desk and scoffs
"They stole from us and you're letting that go? I don't know what is going on in your life but this is my life too,the less money you make the less alcohol I get to drink"
Zhongli sighs,like usual his best friend and partner is so not serious and is focusing on the wrong thing.
"I can't tell you right now...."
Zhongli trailed off and went back to his work before being interrupted by a small green boy pulling on his pants,too short to reach his shirt.
"Papa"
"Xiao what's wrong?"
"Can I go out and play?"
Xiao tilted his head,his chubby cheeks prominent,how could anyone say no to him
"Of course,tell your uncles to follow you"
Xiao happily smiled and slowly waddled away
Zhongli looked at xiao with guilt,he was the one who orphaned xiao when he fought with a rival mafia.when zhongli found him,he was locked up in a room with a small window,xiao was very silent as if he was dead but upon closer inspection zhongli realised he was alive,shivering and malnourished.
Feeling obliged he took xiao in and adopted him and made sure to raise him with as much love as possible.
Zhongli was very much overprotective of xiao and wanted to give him everything,perhaps the only thing zhongli could never give him was a mother.
As reminisced about xiao's first few days with him he didn't realise how much time had passed.
What snapped zhongli back to reality was venti's phone ringing
'Brr brr'
"Hello?"
Venti listened for a while and nodded his head
"I'll be right there"
Zhongli curious about what venti was whispering about asked
"What happened?"
"Umm so there is a situation....xiao is missing"
"What!"
Zhongli slammed his hand on the table and stood up immense rushing to go and look for xiao
"Wait, calm down! He was playing at the playground and he just suddenly disappeared he couldn't have gone far"
That did not calm zhongli at all,there was still the possibility of xiao being kidnapped or getting injured or both
Zhongli immediately called for all of his men to go look for xiao and bring him back safely.
Meanwhile xiao was wandering the streets very unsure of what to do
'Oh no I got separated from my uncles'
But xiao was not panicked and instead happily walked down the street admiring the streets but as the sky got darker he couldn't help but feel scared like he was in that dark room once again
But suddenly there was a pair of comforting hands enveloping xiao who hushed and comforted him,a warm gentle voice asked xiao
"Are you alright?"
xiao looked up and saw a ginger haired male who had the most warm smile he had ever seen.xiao pulled his little hands to his face and wiped his tears.
"Yea-yeah"
"What's your name?"
"My name is x-xiao"
Childe put xiao down who was reluctant to let go but promised xiao
"I'll hold your hand okay?"
"Okay"
Childe held xiao hand or more like 2 fingers held xiao's hand and he brought xiao to a nearby ice cream place and bought him some chocolate ice cream
Childe stared as xiao stuffed ice cream into his face the chocolate ice cream staining his mouth,which prompted childe to wipe his mouth with a tissue
"Thank you"
"You're so polite,your parents must have raised you right"
"Mhmm my papa did,he always said to be polite to others"
"Oh?"
"My papa is also really strong"
"Who is your papa?"
"My papa's name is zhong-Papa!"
Xiao got up from his chair and leaped into zhongli's arms,zhongli who was panting like crazy tightly hugged xiao
"Thank celestia"
Zhongli picked up xiao and walked over to childe
"Ajax....thank you"
"No I did nothing"
"Still-"
"I just saw him on the streets and just bought ice cream"
As childe was about to leave the store zhongli pulled on Childe's coat and hesitated slightly not knowing how to explain himself
"No about xiao...I-"
"It's fine if you have secrets you know? I have secrets too"
"Let's talk another day. I'll call you"
"Alright"
Childe left feeling a little sad and betrayed but the contract never stated anything about having to reveal their secrets so childe tried to ignore his feelings,he tried to bury it deep in his heart but he just kept thinking about it,Childe couldn’t help but wonder who did zhongli have a child with.
'So he has a kid huh...'