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I know that our love was fate, so I stayed

Summary:

Childe was tasked with one job: find out who the new champion of the Sinnoh region was and get rid of them. It should be an easy job, one that could bring Childe the recognition he deserves. But his plan derails the moment he sets foot in Canalave City and crosses paths with Zhongli. Childe stumbles to the finish line, wondering if he's doing the right thing after all. And would Zhongli be there to catch him if he fell?

A character-driven story featuring a lot of Pokémon, character growth, awkward flirting and where the 'bad' guy is actually the protagonist.

Chapter 1

Notes:

This project took over two months to write, but now it's finally ready for posting! I had so much fun writing this, Genshin has become my new obsession but I always have a soft spot for Pokémon, especially 4th generation (I am really showing my age, oof). So I ended combining the two!

The story follows mainly Pokémon Platinum and the Liyue story-line from the Genshin game, though I did deviate from several plot-points and parts. In the end, it's mostly a Childe centric story with a lot of Zhongli. For people who want more information or a handy guide, I have an overview of all the Pokémon that appear in each chapter in a spreadsheet, with pictures! See end-notes for the link.

Per usual, I'm not a native English speaker so apologies if there are language mistakes. Characters could be OOC, though I tried my best to write them well (but you know, first time for everything). Title is from 'about love' by MARINA!

(See the end of the chapter for more notes.)

Chapter Text

Childe was relieved to say goodbye. The crew of the Crux had been a rowdy kind, one Childe usually would hang out with. But he had vowed to himself to remain distant from the crew. He only talked with captain Beidou at times, mainly about the journey progress. It was quite the journey from Unova to Sinnoh, which would be much faster if my flight. But way less conspicuous, especially after what happened in Hoenn.

 

The Crux moored in a small alcove, miles away from Canalave City.

 

“Do you need a boat?” Beidou asked, stepping next to him.

 

She looked every inch a pirate, wearing an eye patch over her left eye and brightly coloured clothes. Her brown hair was tied together in a loose braid. If he hadn’t seen the official trading papers with his own eyes, he would have thought the Crux was a pirate ship. Not only did Beidou look the part, but she was also illegally bringing people into Sinnoh. It was a crime to just sneak into a country. Yet, here he was, a very dangerous member of the Fatui. And there was Kazuha. Childe knew very little about him. He didn’t look older than sixteen, with pale hair and delicate features. He had fled his home region Johto, where they banned the ownership of Pokémon. Childe always had seen him with a purple Vivillon, the two attached to the hip.

 

Childe checked the water below them. The waves were gentle; the only issue was the large drop.

 

“I’ll be fine. I just need a rope ladder.” He touched one of the Pokéballs at his hip.

 

Beidou nodded. “We’ll head to port tomorrow, exactly on time. Nobody would suspect a thing.” Her gaze wandered. Childe noticed that she was looking at Kazuha, standing at the bow, balancing on the bowsprit. The purple-coloured Vivillon was still resting on the back of his head, throwing off his silhouette.

 

“Could you take him with you?” Beidou asked. “I’m not sure how Ningguang will respond, and I don’t want to risk it.”

 

While Childe didn’t know Kazuha well, he knew all about favours. If he did this for Beidou, it would be easier for her to keep quiet.

 

They left at sunset when the sun was disappearing below the waterline. The sea was coloured pinks and yellows, looking very pretty. The crew seemed sad to see Kazuha going, Childe easily forgotten.

 

He released Mavka into the water. She looked like some ancient sea creature, with her large shell, flippers and long neck.  With the help of the rope ladder, Childe got on her shell with ease. Kazuha took a bit longer, the fading light showing a slightly pinched expression on his face. Kazuha wasn’t too sure-footed on Lapras’ back. Childe grabbed his arm, making sure he wouldn’t fall in the water.

 

“You might want to sit down. The water is calm enough,” Childe gently touched Mavka’s neck, enough for him to maintain his balance.

 

Chide gave her a few instructions, and she was off. She swam at a leisure pace, slowly leaving the ship behind. He saw Kazuha looking back longingly, clearly missing the crew. He kept staring ahead, noticing the forest getting closer. He also noticed the many lights of Canalave City, still burning brightly despite the late hour. It would be impossible to sneak in there unnoticed, even in the dead of night.

 

***

 

“Will you be okay on your own?” Childe asked. He didn’t like the idea of leaving this kid behind. Refugee or not, he was still a kid.

 

The forest hid them from view, but also the light. Kazuha was hard to see, which made his expression hard to gauge. The Vivillon was fluttering right above him, its wingbeats harmonising with the rustling of leaves and the scuttling of animals.

 

“I’ll be fine,” Kazuha said. Adjusting to the darkness, Childe saw that he looked a little pale. “I’ve been travelling alone for years.”

 

Kazuha wasn’t a good liar. However, he clearly wasn’t interested in travelling with Childe. Admittedly, the feelings were mutual. Kazuha would be more of a liability than anything else.

 

Kazuha unclipped one of the Pokéballs he had attached to his cloth belt and released it. Childe immediately recognised the Pokémon from back home. The buck-like Pokémon stood proud and tall, its antlers decorated with unfamiliar leaves. They had seven points, and the vibrant colours ranged from red to yellow. It was a Sawsbuck, originally coming from Unova.

 

“This is Mebuki.” Kazuha patted the flank of the Pokémon. Mebuki nuzzled his trainer’s head affectionately. “He’ll keep me company—I promised Beidou that he would look after me.” Kazuha climbed on Mebuki’s back with practised ease.

 

“I wish you good luck,” Childe said, wondering what Kazuha even was planning to do here. Maybe he had friends, though Childe never heard one being mentioned during the journey.

 

“Thank you,” Kazuha said, nodding his head curtly. “Let the winds lead you.”

 

Childe blinked, caught off guard by Kazuha’s words. The young man disappeared by the time Childe had found his footing. He recognised the saying, but it wasn’t common to either Johto, Unova or even Sinnoh. It belonged to Hoenn, the land of the free.

 

He took out a torch, turning it on and casting his surroundings in light. He was going to camp near the forest edge for the night, the late summer heat enough to sleep outside. Then, it was time to visit Canalave City in the morning, wondering what kind of challenges it would bring.

 

***

 

Nobody batted an eye at Childe as he strolled through the gates of Canalave City. The port city was bustling with life, ships mooring and leaving all the time. Pastila, his Emolga, was perched on his shoulder. Seeing as people would notice him anyway, he might as well distract them with something cute. Pastila looked innocent, with her big, black eyes, small nose and squeezable cheeks.

 

“Aww, she’s so cute,” a woman cooed, pinching Pastila’s cheeks. Childe felt Pastila dig her claws in Childe’s shoulder, sending electricity down his body. “I’m sure that the ladies love you.”

 

“They sure do.” Childe gave the woman a wide smile, lying through his teeth.

 

Nobody eyed Childe suspiciously. A few men glared daggers at him, and women and kids kept flocking to him, wanting to meet Pastila. Emolga wasn’t native to Sinnoh, so it was likely many had never seen her species. Pastila didn’t like meeting people unless they offered her food. Right now, her cheeks were stuffed, munching happily on a few berries. Juice stained Childe’s shoulder.

 

Childe finally reached the library. The building was grand. It was a couple of stories high and had a beautiful backdrop of the sea. A paper was taped on the glass doors, telling Childe that there should be no shouting, running, eating, and Pokémon out of their ball.

 

“Pastila, you aren’t allowed inside,” Childe said. He helped Pastila up on the roof and tossed a paper bag at her. Childe heard paper ripping, and Pastila took out an Oran berry. She immediately stuffed it into her mouth, adding several others. She truly had an endless stomach.

 

“Don’t leave with strangers!” Childe shouted at her. Pastila ignored him and kept eating her reward.

 

He entered the library and shot the receptionist a brilliant smile. She blushed and didn’t reprimand him for dragging dirt into the library.

 

The library was bustling with life. Every inch was filled with tables, chairs and shelves. The pathways between the shelves were fit for just one person. Childe dreaded having to comb through hundreds of thousands of books. He might have had to ask for help.

 

The librarian looked harried. Her black curls looked wild, there was a smudge of ink on her left cheek, and her glasses kept sliding off her nose. Stacks upon stacks of boxes were behind the desk, some unpacked but most still taped shut. Childe approached the desk, putting on his most disarming smile. He had learnt that women like men who smiled, but not in a creepy way. He had practised a lot in the mirror.

 

“Hi,” Childe greeted. “I’m looking for a book.”

 

The librarian looked up in a hurry, her glasses slipping off. They bounced on her chest, the cord saving it from falling on the ground. It clearly had happened before.

 

“If you have a moment,” she said apologetically, putting her glasses back on her nose. “I have to unpack these books, and my staff is sick and...” her eyes lit up, spotting someone behind Childe. “Mister Zhongli, could you give me a hand?”

 

Childe looked around, wondering who mister Zhongli was. Zhongli wasn’t the elderly gentleman Childe had expected. Zhongli could’ve stepped off the pages of one of those tasteful adult magazines Childe hid underneath his mattress. He was tall and slender with bright amber eyes. His dark brown hair looked effortless, tied into a low ponytail. He wore a white dress shirt, with a brown waistcoat, pressed slacks and dress boots. A long, brown coat was draped over his arm. Belatedly, Childe noticed the Pokéballs clipped to the sash, a green charm dangling among the minimised Pokéballs.

 

“Everything okay?” Mister Zhongli asked, his voice deep and kind.

 

“Just a lot of orders, my staff is sick, and this gentleman is looking for a book and...” the librarian let out a sigh that Childe could feel in his bones. She likely was running on coffee and three hours of sleep.

 

“I could help out if mister...” Mister Zhongli turned his amber eyes to Childe.

 

“Childe.” Childe was, thankfully, a professional and didn’t stutter or act like a schoolboy. He was in his mid-twenties by now; he could keep it together.

 

“If mister Childe doesn’t mind,” Zhongli finished.

 

He was perfect. Zhongli looked wealthy, helpful and familiar with the library. Childe could use him to his benefit.

 

“If it doesn’t trouble you,” Childe said, switching from charming to polite. He had been taught to be like a Kecleon, adapt and change.

 

“I’ve the time; I’m waiting for an order, so I might as well help out instead of sitting around.”

 

The librarian looked relieved and promised mister Zhongli that his order would be ready soon. Zhongli beckoned Childe to follow him, leaving the librarian to do her own thing.

 

“What books are you looking for?” Mister Zhongli asked.

 

Walking side-by-side, Childe realised they were the same height. Zhongli looked more imposing, statuesque. He might as well be seven-foot tall.

 

“Mythology about Sinnoh,” Childe answered.

 

Zhongli’s eyes lit up in excitement. “I didn’t expect you to be someone that would be interested in mythology, mister Childe.”

 

“It’s for my younger brother,” Childe lied smoothly. “He loves stories, and seeing as I’m here anyway, I might as well return with stories to tell.”

 

Zhongli gathered a few books and picked a table tucked in a corner, far away from prying eyes. Childe had hoped to ask Zhongli questions, trying to figure out the region’s current ongoings. Being a rich man, Zhongli likely had a lot of influence. But the moment they sat down, Zhongli grabbed one of the books and started talking.

 

Childe hadn’t accounted for the fact that Zhongli was a nerd. The stories about Sinnoh and its past flowed off his tongue. His voice was pleasant to listen to, and Childe figured the man would make a great storyteller. He talked about the creator of the world, Arceus. The creators of space and time: Palkia and Dialga. Then the story becomes more technical, talking about Pokémon that once roamed around Sinnoh but no longer existed. The remains that were dug up, how it told the history of this region. Childe had utterly lost track of time.

 

“I came here to pick up a book from Hoenn,” Zhongli said, fingers drumming on the cover of a book named ‘the peculiar power of the Gracidea flower’. “It’s about the Pokémon that lived in the past and the fossils they’ve found. I’ve been really fortunate to receive such a fossil and have been able to revive it.”

 

Zhongli clearly had no regard for the rules. He unclipped one of his Pokéballs, let it grow to full size, and released the Pokémon inside. Childe looked at the Pokémon, utterly confused about what it was supposed to be. It looked like a plant with eight petals. It wasn’t even tall enough to reach the table. Its head was purple coloured, swaying with the help of the thin, yellow stem.

 

“It’s a Lileep,” Zhongli said proudly. “It lived in the warm seas of Hoenn. It had been extinct for over 100 million years, yet the fossil remained intact. It uses the petals to catch prey.”

 

Zhongli rummaged through his coat pockets, finding something and tossing it to the Lileep. The Pokémon snatched it from the air and swallowed it in the darkness, its yellow eyes staring up unblinkingly. Childe was horrified. He knew that he walked around with a Cofagrigus, a terrifying Pokémon, but it was supposed to look terrifying. Plant-like Pokémon usually looked cute, not as if it could swallow Childe whole if it was large enough.

 

Zhongli returned the Lileep to its Pokéball, finally allowing Childe to steer the conversation in a different direction. “You’re a researcher?” he asked

 

“No?” Zhongli sounded genuinely confused. “I’m the director of the Oreburgh Mining Museum.”

 

Childe felt Zhongli’s usefulness slip between his fingers. Zhongli wasn’t the influential, rich man Childe had hoped he would be. Zhongli was a nerd that loved history and likely spent his weekend in the Oreburgh mines, looking for a long-lost history of Sinnoh. But the Tsaritsa wouldn’t have picked him if he couldn’t do this. He would figure out who the new champion was and take them out, even if it took a bit longer. It would be foolish to think he was this lucky first try.

 

“I’ve heard good things about the Oreburgh Mining Museum,” Childe said. “They’ve a huge collection of fossils.”

 

There was a spark in Zhongli’s eyes that made Childe’s heart thump a little too loudly. “I could show you around if you’re interested?”

 

“I would love to.”

 

Zhongli offered his hand. Childe only now realised that the man wore gloves. “It’s a deal?”

 

Childe shook the man’s hand. “It’s a deal.”

 

***

 

Pastila landed gracefully on his shoulder the moment they stepped outside. Childe scratched her head, feeling her soft cheek nuzzle against his chin.

 

“She’s yours?” Zhongli asked.

 

“Yeah, this little demon is mine.” Childe realised too late that his grin was a little too feral.

 

Zhongli didn’t notice. He was busy digging through the pockets of his coat. Childe liked that coat. It looked like it was made for him, showing off his strong shoulders, tucking in around the waist and flaring out. It made him look even longer. The sparkly pink pouch Zhongli dug up from the depths of his pockets did not fit in with the picture. Childe worried he was hallucinating.

 

“Does she like sweets?” Zhongli asked, untying the ribbon.

 

“I call her Pastila for a reason,” Childe said, still eyeing the sparkly pouch. “It’s a type of sweet from Unova.”

 

A horribly pink cookie was pinched between Zhongli’s fingers. Pastila was definitely interested, her nose twitching.

 

“What is that?” Childe asked, holding Pastila back from snatching it up. Maybe it was something dangerous.

 

“A poffin. My son and his friends made it, but his Pokémon don’t like sweets, so he sent it to me. However, mine aren’t the biggest on sweets either, and the ones that are, are on a diet.”

 

Childe let Pastila go. The Emolga glided over to Zhongli, sitting on his shoulder and letting him feed her. The poffin, which was rather large for such a small Pokémon, disappeared into her mouth within seconds. Zhongli scratched her under the chin.

 

It was that they were still loitering outside the library, or Childe would’ve promptly walked into something. Pastila only accepts food from the perch on Childe’s shoulder, looking down on the rest as if they were peasants. She didn’t like people touching her, especially not strangers. Yet there was this guy. Not to mention that Zhongli just told Childe something significant. He had a son, which likely meant he had a wife. Though the wedding ring was missing, so he might be a single parent. Nonetheless, the information had great value if Zhongli was actually his target

 

“She doesn’t seem like a demon,” Zhongli remarked, letting Pastila nuzzle his cheek.

 

“Because you feed her,” Childe murmured. While it wasn’t a lie, he felt a little betrayed that she liked a stranger so much. He had to fight tooth and nail to win her trust.

 

After Pastila got several more poffins, she decided that it was enough and returned to Childe’s shoulder.

 

They started to move, mixing in with the crowd. A few people greeted Zhongli, recognising him. Childe wondered why a museum director was this popular.

 

“I’m not sure what your plans are, mister Childe,” Zhongli said; the way he said Childe’s name made his stomach swoop. “But I’m returning to Oreburgh.”

 

Childe had planned to stay the night, then hire a bike and head towards Jubilife City. It was a bustling city where Childe likely could find more information on the champion’s whereabouts. However, if he told Zhongli he would be staying, that was a lost opportunity. Childe didn’t have many means of transport; his Stoutland, Mister Snuffles, was at home keeping an eye on his siblings. His only means of flying was a group of feral Hydreigon that only respected him and nobody else. The government would’ve him in chains before he could blink if they showed up, if they even would. It wasn’t as if they could read letters.

 

“You did promise to show me around the museum,” Childe said. “Though, I might need a ride. I fear Pastila can’t carry me.”

 

“Shamo can fit us both,” Zhongli promised.

 

Zhongli did not explain what kind of Pokémon Shamo was. He just headed towards the city gates, and Childe followed him. A few more people waved at Zhongli. He waved back but didn’t engage in conversations. Instead, he kept up a steady stream of chatter. He was talking about the history of the city. To Childe, it sounded as if Zhongli walked these streets centuries ago.

 

The crowd dispersed, and the first trees started to line their pathway. Zhongli’s words were carried by the wind, creating a gentle murmur among the trees. Childe tried to figure out a plan. He might convince Zhongli to see more parts of the region, all in the name of research. All Childe had to do was figure out what would be a fitting story to tell. Being flown around would save him so much time and money.

 

Zhongli stopped as the bustling of the city was gone, the people far and between. In the distance, Childe could hear a Pokémon battle happening. He recognised the shouts of the trainers and the collision of elements.

 

“Here will be fine,” Zhongli said. “I would recommend returning Pastila to her ball.” It was fun to hear Zhongli stumble over Pastila’s name.

 

Pastila got little say in the matter. She disliked returning to her confinement, but Childe had no choice. Emolga’s weren’t strong fliers, seeing as they mostly glided. Whatever Pokémon Shamo was, it was unlikely that Emolga could keep up. Especially if they wanted to travel at a proper speed.

 

He knew that Staraptor was the most common flying Pokémon in Sinnoh. Childe imagined that it fitted someone like Zhongli. However, the Pokémon Zhongli sent out looked nothing like the eagle-like Pokémon. A Flygon stretched out its wings, its tail sweeping lazily. Being a creature of deserts, Flygon was an unlikely Pokémon to encounter in Sinnoh. The region was known for its extensive mountain ranges and sweeping forests. A riding harness for two was strapped to its body.

 

Zhongli climbed on Shamo’s back with ease. “I hope you don’t fear flying,” he asked.

 

Childe had to unlearn his fear for heights at the age of fourteen when a Hydreigon had snatched him up to feed him to its children.

 

“I’m good with flying.” Childe took Zhongli’s offered hand and sat down on the front seat.

 

Zhongli’s arm snuck past him, picking up the reins, urging Shamo to take flight. Canalave City and the forest grew smaller below them. The wind got a little nippy, stinging Childe’s cheeks. From up high, Sinnoh looked entirely different from Unova. The Unova region were three islands connected with bridges, often segmented into parts. Sinnoh looked like a giant forest where people randomly added cities, with Mt. Coronet splitting the island in two.

 

The Flygon seemed to have no issue carrying them, flying through the clouds toward Oreburgh City. Zhongli was clearly a skilled flier, using one hand to keep a hold on the reins, the other resting on Childe’s hip. Childe focussed on the passing landscape, refusing to even acknowledge Zhongli’s presence. He wasn’t quite sure if the attractiveness part about Zhongli was actually a bonus or more like a curse. Nonetheless, he might have to figure out a plan B.  

 

***

 

Shamo landed on the outskirts of Oreburgh City. Immediately, they were swamped by kids, all calling Zhongli’s name. Childe took in the kids,  realising the majority was very young. A few of the kids had Pokémon— Starly’s, Bidoof’s and Budew’s—but most kids had none.

 

“Can we see Arias?”

 

“No, I want to see Amphirite!”

 

Childe heard several more names, including Shamo’s. He watched Zhongli lowered himself to the ground, approaching the crowd. His smile was polite, his hands held up slightly. A partially defensive state.

 

“I’m sorry, it has been a long day. Another time.”

 

The children whined and groaned, pleading for just one head scratch, one pat, one second of seeing their favourite Pokémon. Zhongli sighed, folding his arms and looking down sternly. “It’s almost dinner time. Your parents will worry.” He sounded like a father. Not like Childe’s, who hardly could keep order in the household, but like a well-meaning father. The ‘it would disappoint me if you don’t listen, but I will still love you’ kind of father.

 

The crowd around Zhongli disappeared, the children heading towards their homes. A few of the parents stood outside, smiling as their children came running. They waved at Zhongli before disappearing inside with their kids. Childe wondered if these kids were friends of Zhongli’s son. For how much Zhongli talked, Childe knew surprisingly little about him.

 

Childe finally climbed down from his perch, feeling slightly disoriented on the solid floor. Flying was such a different feeling from walking; it was something Childe never got used to. Shamo was returned to her Pokéball after being told that she did a good job.

 

“I apologise; they can get excited at times.” Zhongli was tugging at his gloves. Childe wondered what secrets were hidden underneath?

 

“It’s okay; kids can easily get excited.” Childe knew. He had three younger siblings who begged to see his Pokémon the moment he came home.

 

Zhongli stopped tugging on his gloves. ”Would you like to accompany me for dinner? I know an excellent place.”

 

Diners were a great place to learn things. People spoke freely about, without a care in the world. Having someone to accompany him would make him look less suspicious. Not to mention he was famished. His last meal had been onboard the Crux, where he had dined alone. So he welcomed the company and the opportunity to learn more.

 

“If you insist.”

 

***

 

Childe quickly figured that Zhongli was well known among anybody within Oreburgh City. During their short walk to the restaurant, several people had stopped them for a quick chat with Zhongli. Not all of them could be the parents of his son’s friends, seeing the different ages. Childe checked out the poster that was taped on the restaurant door. It read that Wanmin restaurant brought a new twist on an old classic. They were greeted by the chef once they got inside, Zhongli even by name. The man even brought them to an empty table.

 

Was Zhongli some kind of celebrity? Ordinary people didn’t get stopped on the street by random people, though all they had done was chat. No autographs or quickly snapped pictures. There were also no people following them around, whispering behind their back. Here, a few people acknowledged Zhongli, but none of them came by to say hi.

 

“Xiangling will be with you two shortly,” chef Mao said, handing them two menus before leaving.

 

Childe could make no head or tail from the menu, so he opted to observe the restaurant. From their seat, Childe had a clear view of the kitchen. It was filled with primarily humans, though he spotted a few Pokémon helping out. A Slugma was sleeping in the fire, keeping it constantly going. A Chimecho, its bell ringing gently, floated around, lifting pans and plates from their spots. The employees just walked around them, used to their presence.

 

“I’ve got your drinks.” A young voice cut through the silence.

 

Their waitress, Xiangling, if Childe remembered correctly, had arrived with two cups of steaming tea. She couldn’t be older than sixteen, wearing an apron over her uniform. Her hair was almost black, braided back to reveal a pair of bright, golden eyes. She looked like a younger, female version of chef Mao.

 

“Thank you, Xiangling.” Zhongli closed his menu. “I’ll take the usual.”

 

“Of course, mister Zhongli.” Xiangling turned her smile on Childe. It was disarming to see someone that looked like they genuinely liked him. “What can I get you?”

 

“What do you recommend?” Childe asked.

 

Xiangling’s face lit up. “I’ve been practising our Jeuyun Gouba recipe. It’s a delicious stir-fry with some ham and a little kick to it.”

 

Childe nodded, not portraying the fear he felt when he heard ‘a little kick to it’. Xiangling disappeared with their order, and Zhongli started a conversation once again. This time, Zhongli decided to ask questions, not allowing Childe to only half listen. He lied through his teeth that he was on vacation to take time off from his hectic consulting job back in Unova.

 

“Nothing with Pokémon?” Zhongli asked.

 

“No, why?” Childe asked, unable to hide his weariness.

 

Xiangling returned with their food, interrupting Zhongli’s answer. Jeuyun Gouba smelled divine, the smell of well-cooked meat immediately hitting his nose. Though what also struck him was the spiciness. Even the scent caused his eyes to water. He was going to die. Childe looked for a fork or spoon but couldn’t find either; there were only chopsticks.

 

Zhongli had already unwrapped the chopsticks from the napkin, holding them daintily. All Childe had to do was mimic Zhongli, right? How hard could it be?

 

“To get back to your question, it’s just how you behave around Pokémon. You and Pastila seem close, and unlike most, you weren’t phased by seeing Shamo.”

 

Zhongli took pieces of ham delicately out of his bowl, and Childe tried to mimic him. His own piece of ham slid back into the bowl seconds after. That was fine. He was a quick learner. After several attempts, completely ignoring Zhongli’s question, Childe groaned in frustration. He ended up stabbing a piece of fish and shoving it in his mouth.

 

Heat stung his tongue, and Childe reached for his cup of tea. He drowned half of the lukewarm drink, wiping the sweat off his forehead. Childe was going to die, either by starving or burning up from the inside. He barely had tasted the meat.

 

With tearful eyes, he gauged out Zhongli’s reaction. The man was hiding his mouth behind a gloved hand, his eyes turned up a little. The bastard was smiling.

 

“Apologies,” Zhongli said, removing his hand. There was still a smile tugging at his corners. “You just reminded me of my son learning to eat with chopsticks. He had no patience, kept on stabbing most of the food.”

 

His son, right. Childe must look like a child towards Zhongli. He took another sip of his tea.

 

Childe finally gathered his wits to answer Zhongli’s question. “But to answer your question, I never finished trainer school, so I’m not allowed to challenge the gym leaders.”

 

The ‘why’ question never came. Zhongli picked up another piece of pork and offered it to Childe. Childe eyed it wearily.

 

“It’s not spicy,” Zhongli promised.

 

Childe let himself be fed like a child. Zhongli’s dish tasted mild, but it tasted good, and the texture was soft and soothing against his burnt tongue. He let out a groan, munching on the meat.

 

“You don’t have…” Childe pressed his hand against his mouth, realising he had a mouthful of food. Zhongli didn’t listen, swapping their dishes.

 

“I can handle the spices just fine,” Zhongli reassured him. “The next time, you can order something else.”

 

Zhongli dug into Childe’s old dish with no problem. Childe clumsily started to fish food from the bowl, stuffing his face. As his hands got sweaty and the dish cooler, Childe tugged off his gloves and started to pick food out of the bowl. He slowly turned into a barbarian, eating with his hands and talking with a mouthful of food. But it was the best food he had in weeks, and nothing would be more embarrassing than him trying to use chopsticks.

 

They finished dinner, Xiangling picked up their dishes and returned with the bill. Childe had noticed that she didn’t serve anyone else and spent most of the time in the kitchen. Zhongli must visit this restaurant very often. The dinner had been a waste of time. Not only did Zhongli talk a lot, but the people in the restaurant talked about nothing interesting. Raising a baby, training their Pokémon, tomorrow’s weather. The word ‘champion’ wasn’t even mentioned, and Childe had been straining to hear anything worthwhile.

 

Zhongli was digging through his coat pockets, piling things on the table that shouldn’t even be in his pockets, to begin with. The beat-up smartphone, some Pokéballs and revival items made sense. But then there were colourful rocks, scraps of paper, a pencil stump, a pocket knife and two packages of glitter. Childe involuntarily shuddered at seeing the glitter, knowing how hard it would be to clean.

 

“I apologise,” Zhongli said. “It seems I’ve forgotten my money.”

 

No money. Zhongli, who looked like he was made of money and had a son, didn’t have money on him. Childe didn’t leave the house without money. Zhongli returned his things to the many pockets of his coat; his cheeks flushed a dark red.

 

“You can pay me back next time.” Childe took out his own wallet, counting the money he needed.

 

He caught Zhongli staring at his wallet, a frown creasing his forehead. Then Childe realised he wasn’t staring at his wallet but eyeing his hands. Childe’s scarred, partially burned hands and the faint freckles. He dropped his wallet and quickly put his gloves back on, hiding his past.

 

Childe flagged down one of the waitresses when he finally got the money. The woman didn’t look much older than Xiangling and seemed surprised.

 

“Oh, I apologise, mister Zhongli; we already put the money on your tab.” The waitress bowed curtly. “But we can take it off again.”

 

Zhongli smiled sheepishly. “Thank you.”

 

Childe realised that this wasn’t the first time Zhongli had forgotten his money. It likely happened so often that the restaurant had a tab for him. He wasn’t sure whenever it was endearing or worrisome. Zhongli had a son, after all.

 

The waitress collected the money and wished them a good evening. They left the restaurant, entering the chilly night. Childe found it refreshing, taking in a deep breath. Oreburgh City smelt like earth, dirt and food from the restaurant.

 

“Should I escort you to the Pokémon centre?” Zhongli offered his arm as if Childe was his date.

 

“I should be fine.” Childe had noticed the red, pulsing sign that marked the building as a Pokécenter on their way to the restaurant. A Pokémon centre, shorted to Pokécenter, offered a place for trainers and travellers to rest.

 

Even though they didn’t know each other for long, Zhongli seemed the kind of man Childe would grow fond of, and that was a dangerous thing. Right now, he could get rid of him. Say goodbye, sleep a night and travel to Jubilife City. It would be the smart move. After all, he could find someone else to use. He turned to leave when Zhongli grabbed his arm. Childe saw panic flashing in his eyes, causing Childe’s heartbeat to spike. Had Zhongli realised who he was? There was no way, right?

 

“Could we exchange numbers?” Zhongli asked, fishing his phone out of his pocket. “I did promise you a tour of the museum.”

 

Childe mentally sighed with relief. He agreed to exchange numbers, adding Zhongli under ‘Mister Zhongli’, though he wouldn’t be texting him. There was only so much he could handle, and would quickly become a problem.

Notes:

Thank you for reading! Leave a kudo! if you liked it. Comments are also very welcome. The story will be updated weekly, together with the overview spreadsheet. Hereby the link:
Spreadsheet with Pokémon-overview