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During the Archon War
When given the choice, Morax preferred to seal his enemies away than kill them, much like he’d rather confront them face to face than use stealth. However, considering the nature of his latest foe, he couldn’t afford to be picky. The Goddess of Prophecies, although physically weak, could doom another immortal to his death with just a few well-chosen words if her target happened to hear her foretelling. That was a risk he could not take, for his sake and that of his people, whom he had sworn to protect. He would not break their contract over a matter as petty as his own preferences.
This only gave him one option: to strike her down before she could even notice his presence. He would not get another chance, so he’d have to make it count. Thankfully for Morax, the senses of his enemy weren’t sharp, contrary to his own. Her headquarters were too lightly guarded as well, and he could command the ground not to make a sound as he approached his target.
Once he reached her, Morax raised his spear, ready to strike her right through the heart, but at the very last second, the Goddess moved slightly to the left. He didn’t have time to readjust his strike. Although he inflicted a mortal blow on the unsuspecting immortal, it wasn’t enough to kill her on the spot.
She turned around, cold fury burning in her eyes as she recognized him. Fear overtook Morax’s heart the moment she opened her mouth, and he hurriedly covered her lips with a Geo construct to silence her. The force of her voice shattered it to pieces, leaving him trembling with terror. The Goddess’ powers created a protective barrier around her that countered all the attacks he tried to throw her way in desperate attempts to prevent her from speaking.
“Morax. Your perfidy will not go unpunished.” She seethed “For my very last prophecy, I will grant you a fate worse than death. From today on, tragedy will befall every god you choose as your mate. No matter how hard you try, you will be unable to do a thing to prevent their demise. For thousands of years, you will remain alone, devoid of the partner your heart aches for, until you become so miserable, so desperate for companionship, that you will commit the unthinkable. Here’s what will happen…”
She took a step toward him and whispered the last words of her curse straight into his ear. Tears were already straining Morax’s cheeks, but this time, his expression turned into one of horror.
“No, please! Not that!” He begged her.
But the Goddess of Prophecies was already gone. She fell limp against him and Morax frantically pushed her body away, as if that would be enough to change his terrible fate. He couldn’t stop shaking, appalled by his new future.
Still, he tried to compose himself as he picked up his spear. At least, he’d been the sole target of the Goddess’s wrath. His people were safe. He had successfully shielded them, just like he had promised in their contract. This was what he needed to focus on.
That way, maybe he would manage to not break apart.
Present Day
Sat on top of Mount Tianheng, Zhongli observed the scenery below. Or rather, he pretended to. He just could not stop himself from admiring Childe rather than the view. The Harbinger looked even more handsome than usual, with the wind blowing through his ginger hair and his cheeks still red from their earlier climb.
Zhongli forced himself to avert his gaze, bitterness gnawing at his heart. They were only friends, nothing more, and it had to remain that way. He was only hurting himself by yearning for something that would, no, that could never be. His fate had already been decided for him, and it didn’t involve the infuriatingly attractive Eleventh Harbinger.
He almost gasped in surprise when Childe put his hand on top of his. He probably didn’t mean to, Zhongli tried to convince himself to calm his racing heart. This was probably just a mistake, and the Harbinger would soon apologize for it…
However, when he looked up at him, Zhongli was met with a tender, meaningful smile.
Then Childe leaned in.
Zhongli should have stopped him before their lips met. He should have been better at concealing his feelings. No, his failings ran deeper than that: he should not have let himself get attached in the first place. But as Childe kissed him, Zhongli could not deny how badly he wanted this, wanted him.
Unable to resist his raging emotions, he wrapped his arms around the Harbinger’s neck and pulled him closer, desperate for his touch, for anything he would give him. For a few blissful seconds, he abandoned himself to the kiss, eagerly granting Childe access to his mouth, but reality quickly caught up with him.
He could not have this. Not when he would only end up hurting the man in his arms.
Ignoring the cries of his heart, he grabbed Childe’s shoulders and pushed him away. The shock and hurt in his blue eyes almost convinced Zhongli to go back on his decision, but it would only be cruel to him.
“I’m sorry. I can’t.”
Zhongli tried to sound composed, but his voice trembled instead and tears welled up in his eyes. He’d never felt so… so miserable. He knew that his rejection was causing Childe pain and he hated it. It only got worse when the Harbinger put a gentle hand on his cheek so he would look at him, and Zhongli spotted nothing but concern on his face.
“Why? Zhongli, please talk to me. Have I done something wrong?”
The former Archon immediately shook his head, refusing to let Childe believe he was at fault for this, even if only for a brief second.
“No, of course not. Rest assured that I am the only one to blame.”
“I don’t get it. What are you to blame for?”
“For a mistake I made years ago, one that could have been easily avoided. It resulted in the curse that now keeps us apart.”
An unpleasant shiver ran down Zhongli’s spine as he remembered that awful day. Childe frowned, looking more and more worried.
“What curse? Please talk to me, Xiansheng. Maybe we can figure something out together.”
Zhongli let out a sad laugh. If only things were that easy. If only he could turn back time and make everything right again.
“I don’t think so. The dying goddess who put this curse on me used all of her remaining power to do so. There is no undoing it, trust me, I have already tried countless times. She said that all the gods who loved me would meet a tragic end… As you know, Guizhong, Azhdaha, and Osial, they all…”
Zhongli’s heart clenched at the memories. He remembered all too clearly his three previous lovers insisting to stay with him, regardless of the dangers it entailed. He’d warned them about his curse, but they’d decided to brave it anyway.
One died, one eroded, one turned against him. And just like it had been foretold, he found himself helpless to stop any of it.
His eyes widened when Childe engulfed him in a warm hug and slowly ran a hand through his long hair in a soothing gesture.
“I’m sorry you had to go through all that. It really sucks. But I am not a god, so it should have no effect on me, right?”
“You do not understand. That… That is only half of what my curse entails.”
This time, Zhongli could not hold back his tears anymore. They fell onto Childe’s gentle fingers as the Snezhnayan stroke his cheek reassuringly.
“What is the rest of it, then?” Childe inquired, his voice calm and steady as he did everything in his power to quell Zhongli’s panic. “Depending on how that goddess phrased it, maybe we can find a way to work around it?”
As often, Childe’s audacity baffled him. Did the Harbinger really believe himself capable of finding a loophole in a prophecy so carefully woven that even he, the God of Contracts, had failed to free himself from it? However, the determination shining in his usually dull eyes almost convinced him that this was something they could achieve, together.
However, he remained hesitant to confess the whole content of the curse, as the mere thought of his detestable future brought him great shame. Still, Childe deserved the truth, and so Zhongli bared his heart to him, no matter how deeply it hurt.
“My fate is to be plagued by loneliness, to be deprived of the companionship of a lover time and time again until I become so desperate that I… that I will resign myself to take a foul abyss monster as my mate. I… I do not wish to become intimate with you when I know what a detestable outcome awaits me, even if my whole being yearns to stay by your side. You… You are incredibly dear to me, more so than any mortal I have met in all of my six thousand years of life, and I refuse to be a cause for heartbreak on your part. How could I be worthy of your love when I cannot wholeheartedly promise you fidelity? When you might one day find me committing unthinkable acts with a… With…”
Quiet tears turned into sobs and Zhongli found himself unable to continue. Speaking about his curse aloud made it even more real and he hated it. Contrary to what he was expecting, Childe wasn’t looking at him with disgust, just… bewilderment.
“Look, I know it might sound strange, but there’s something I really, really need to show you right now, so… Don’t freak out, okay?”
Before Zhongli could demand an explanation for his cryptic words, Childe’s vision and delusion both activated at the same time and the human’s body started… changing. The consultant’s eyes widened. This transformation process was unlike anything he had witnessed in his long life. Once it came to an end, a creature that was clearly abyssal in nature stood in Childe’s place.
“So, I guess the Traveler didn’t tell you the details of our fight in the Golden House, uh?” He chuckled in a deep, otherworldly voice.
The red mask that covered his face disintegrated, revealing Childe underneath. His hair was slick back and the color of his eyes was closer to purple than blue, not to mention that he was way taller than any human could be, but it was still Childe, although his elemental energy was now laced with abyssal power.
“Do you think I’m enough of an abyss monster for that prophecy of yours? I mean, I literally call this form my Foul Legacy, so…?”
Zhongli’s surprise swiftly morphed into joy as he realized the implications behind Childe’s words. The Harbinger was right: he matched all the requirements stated in that awful prediction that was meant to punish him. With a trembling hand, he reached for Childe, letting his fingertips brush against the soft locks of his hair as he cupped his face tenderly. The Harbinger leaned down so he could do so easily despite their difference in height.
“How is such a thing possible?” He whispered
“Long story short, I fell into the abyss when I was a kid. It turned me into… Well, this.”
So it was true. Childe was technically an abyss monster through and through. Zhongli couldn’t take it anymore. Leaving all manners aside, he promptly threw himself into Childe’s gigantic arms, squeezing him in the tightest hug possible.
“Hey, easy there, Xiansheng. It’s not like I’m gonna disappear or something.”
“You… You do not understand. For thousands of years, I thought I would eventually have no choice but to… to offer myself to a mindless beast, that I would defile myself in the most despicable ways. But you… You are nothing like what I feared. Words aren’t nearly enough to describe how elated I am to be promised to you.”
He released a shaky breath and let his head fall against Childe’s armored torso. He blinked in surprise when the body in his arms suddenly started changing shape. The next second, he found himself holding a very human Childe.
“Sorry, but this form constantly drains my energy. I’d rather not use it for too long outside of battle.” The Harbinger apologized as he rubbed the back of his head a bit awkwardly.
“You have nothing to be sorry for. Your presence alone fills me with utmost glee, regardless of the appearance you choose to display. Now that nothing stands between us anymore, let it be known that I gladly accept your courtship."
“So, uh… Does that mean I can kiss you now? Because I really want to.”
Childe's question never got answered, because this time, it was Zhongli who leaned in to eagerly join their lips together.