Miss Kobayashi’s Dragon Maid AU
Childe the human is a hardworking individual, but among the Fatui- especially among the other Harbingers, he is rather lonely. If he dares to let anybody come too close to him, he’ll endanger them and himself and that’s something he absolutely doesn’t want.
So when he gets to spend time with Zhongli BECAUSE of his work, he finds his days in Liyue to be a little brighter…
One night after eating they were simply taking a stroll near the harbour, his dear friend was talking about work and mentioned repaying him what he owed…
‘’You know, I don’t mind paying for dinner or other trivial things, my payment is simply the time I get to spend with you!’’ Childe shrugged but a faint blush tinted his cheeks as he thought about Zhongli trying to make it up to him regardless. The dark-haired male seemed to be deep in thought now.. He was in the middle of executing his last contract, making Childe a part of it whenever he wanted or not- There was definitely a lot to owe him back later on. Still, as his hands traced the finely carved wooden railing near the dock, the thought of another contract became.. Appealing. Zhongli liked rules, they brought order and smoothness to his emotionless existence. Or that’s what he always believed. Feelings like greed could end a contract and result in punishment.. It was of his own accord that he wanted Childe out of his private affairs, it would upset him. Leading on the young man for months, spending his money, and then leaving him with nothing didn’t feel right. Once everything was out, he would be free. But what is freedom really?
‘’Earth to Zhongli?’’ A hand was gently gripping his shoulder, shaking him out of his thoughts. ‘’You’ve been quite out of it for today.. If we were in Sneznaya you would have probably frozen to death by standing there like a rock. Is everything alright?’’ His caring voice echoed in Zhongli’s head. Feelings. They were the end of contracts. He couldn’t get his own feelings get in the way this time- even if it felt wrong to lie to the Fatui. So he didn’t lie, but he also didn’t say the truth. ‘’I’ve been thinking. Perhaps once this is all over I won’t be welcome in your presence anymore. Your work and ambitions will carry you away faster than the wind and I will remain here with nothing to pay your kindness and honesty back with.. So before that happens, I offer you a piece of truth you shan’t forget.’’ Zhongli chose his words carefully as he closed his eyes. The first rule of the secret contract was NOT to speak of it.. So he had to leave that out. ‘’I’ve taken a liking to you. You’re funny and competent, I regret not meeting you sooner and .. After all of this is over and your job is done, I would like you to know that I never planned for you to be caught up in my preparations for the funeral.’’ The redhead looked a bit surprised but he quickly smiled cooing as he squeezed the shoulder he was still gently holding ‘’aww, don’t worry about it. I like you too- you know! But you don’t have to act like everything is over once we’re done here-’’ But he was cut off as Zhongli squished his face with his gloved hands. ‘’It will be over. Everything. Don’t you see how Liyue is changing? This was never a process that you were supposed to be involved in, which is why I’ll say it again Childe. Remember it. .. I NEVER planned for you to be caught up in this, you weren’t supposed to be here, everything work-related between us might as well never happen because you and me, what we have is something.. Private. Not a transaction relationship bound by a contract. So remember that.’’
The words were still ringing in his head. Ringing like alarm bells, it left a bitter taste in his mouth as the two parted for the night. The bitterness of a lie not fully told, combined with an irony undertone spread out on his tongue as he eyed the Gnosis being passed on to his colleague. The God of Contracts. Right in front of him- he has been right there, his Objective was SO near this entire time! Childe has never been tricked like this before, it made his blood boil and stomach turn as slight nausea and disgust at his own carelessness pooled in his stomach- or where his stomach was supposed to be. Everything in him felt dislocated, like a weapon that wasn’t properly put together. He tried to play it cool- but unlike Signora, he couldn’t just freeze. ‘’You.. YOU owe me!’’ Childe spat, putting his foot down and Zhongli dared to.. Smile? This screamed for a fight, to put this GOD in his PLACE!
‘’I knew I would. Meet me at the Guili Plains tomorrow night. You deserve to be repaid.’’ Even the traveller whose name Childe already forgot and resorted to calling her Ojou-chan instead, she looked about as betrayed as him and almost empathetic towards him. Childe felt small but he didn’t dare to let it show, there was no slouch, no sad eyes, god forbid no tears. There was only one thing on his mind. A battle in the moonlight.
But… things ended differently. Childe used to be on the hunt for this gods gnosis, now he wanted his life. The god in front of him was willing to give it to him. Wich was surprising until he explained.. He explained his own feelings and reasons for making the contract, now stating it’s rules and the fact that he never meant for Childe to be in it, which reminded him of that tender night in the harbour. The fact that Childe knew this and still felt betrayed, the fact hat Zhongli was outright telling him that he would pay him back for this and Childe understood, the grip on his weapon loosened and both of them shared their first real hug under the moonlight. ‘’Even without my gnosis, I am still an Adepti and I’ve chosen to repay you, by aiding you as your personal servant.’’
And so Childe had an assistant, a training-partner, a.. Partner? A Butler? A House-Dragon?? Things were unclear, but having Zhongli around, made things not only brighter but warmer aswell. They were inseparable. Even when that Feral Adepti Yaksha burst in and accused Childe of seducing the God of Contracts into this.
- In short: Childe is Miss Kobayashi, Zhongli is Tohru and Xiao will be Kanna. Everybody will keep their personality in tact and while Xiao will probably end up living with them, they wont baby him like Kanna is babied. Xiao will however end up getting attached to humans and their way of life aswell, wich results in chaos.
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