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Flowers are meant to be relaxing. They’re meant to be enjoyed in nature, taken care of by gentle hands, given to lovers or friends to partake in their wondrous aromas.
Flowers are not meant to be coughed up into a sink by a hunched-over harbinger. Childe spat as he tried to clear his airways of purple-toned petals.
Stupid flowers, he thought. I’m supposed to be on vacation!
Yes, hardly a day after he had arrived in Fontaine for his Tsaritsa-sanctioned vacation from all Fatui activities, he had found himself with a tickling in his throat and an uncomfortable sensation in his chest. Nothing that the Eleventh Harbinger couldn't handle, certainly. A little chest cold never killed anyone. He probably just caught something on the trip here.
It had certainly been a shock when he had started coughing up flowers - and embarrassing to boot, seeing as his first foray into Fontaine ended up with him practically puking into a trash can surrounded by little Melusines asking if he was okay. He had waved it off and hurried towards his hotel where he was determined to drink some water and head back outside and enjoy his time here, damn it.
But Teyvat was not as merciful as he thought.
Back in Snezhnaya, he had had excuses to be busy - Fatui duties, family visits, clearing out monsters, the like. He had been in Liyue for work purposes, had futzed about in Inazuma and gotten trapped in a labyrinth for reasons he couldn’t quite recall, and had even befriended a young woman and played games with children there. On vacation, though, he had nothing to do, nothing to distract him from those thoughts…
…of that accursed Zhongli.
Unfortunately, all while on his vacation, Childe became struck with never-ending fantasies about Zhongli. On the Aquabus, walking through the countryside, even clearing out monsters for fun.
I wonder if Zhongli would enjoy this relaxing ride across the water. He'd probably talk my ear off.
Zhongli always likes his walks. He’d love the scenery here.
To see him, an actual archon, in action against the monsters here…
I wonder if he's thinking about me at dinner. I wonder if he misses me. He’d hate the seafood I’m eating now. I’m still practicing with the chopsticks, even though I don't have to.
Zhongli, Zhongli, Zhongli…
It disturbed him to realize that he may spend this entire vacation not actually relaxing but instead stressing about a man who he shouldn't be thinking about. The betrayal stung him even still, yet he couldn't parse why he truly held no ill will towards him. He had contacted Lumine early in his journey to see if she was interested in sparring - surely that would clear his head - only to be told she was participating in some important event in Sumeru and couldn't leave.
What a jerk.
That brought him back to now, studying these velvety flower petals he had never seen before. How had this come out of him? He’d never even heard of a disease like this. Just his luck that the moment he tried to relax, he’d be stuck with some rare illness. No matter, though - he was the Tsaritsa’s vanguard, he had been to the Abyss and back, he was invincible. Something like this couldn’t hold him down. He marched out of his bathroom and towards the outside world, determined to have a good vacation.
*
“Director Hu, I believe I may be ill.”
“Whaaat? My best worker, sick?” Hu Tao leapt over to Zhongli’s side, using a chair to feel the back of her hand to his forehead. “You don’t have a fever or anything.”
“Yes, it is not a fever, but-” Zhongli put a fist to his mouth to cough and Hu Tao grimaced.
“It doesn’t sound that bad right now.” She tilted her head. “Do you want to take the day off to rest? I bet we have some tea for coughs, though.”
“Hmm, I believe that would be beneficial.” Zhongli followed Hu Tao to the parlor’s makeshift tea room and sat down. “Green tea is a catch-all for many infections and ailments, but perhaps we should find something different with a more targeted purpose. After all, I am experiencing no other symptoms besides a cough. Marshmallow root tea has the benefit of decreasing swelling in mucus membranes, though it may not be the best for this situation. Licorice root tea is equipped to handle bacterial infections, but if this is a virus, then it won’t be doing any good. Honey tea is helpful for soothing the throat, but-”
“Okay, quit yapping!” Hu Tao cut in. “I’ll make you honey ginger tea. Is that okay?”
Zhongli nodded thoughtfully. “Yes, that would be amenable.”
“Good, because I would’ve made it even if you said no.” Hu Tao closed the cabinet with a flourish and skipped around the room as she prepared the tea.
Zhongli absentmindedly tapped his fingers on the table, studying its craftsmanship. It was elegant, with a resin piece in the middle filled with flowers as if suspended in water. It reminded him of Childe - elegant, dangerous, breathtakingly beautiful.
He coughed hard and Hu Tao yelped.
“Aiya, sounds like I need to get this tea to you lickety-split!” She hurried around, accidentally spilling some water in her haste. Within minutes, she set a steaming pot of tea in front of Zhongli and poured it into a cup for him. “What’s with that look on your face?”
“I suppose I'm just reminiscing,” Zhongli replied as he gratefully took the cup and paused. The tea inside was a soft orange, reminding him once more of that bergamot-colored hair. Shaking it off, he sipped the tea and instantly felt a soothing warmth rushing through him. He smiled and thanked Hu Tao. “This is easing me, though.”
Hu Tao tilted her head. “Still stressed about that harbinger? It's been like two years, you know.”
Zhongli choked on his tea and cleared his throat. “Er, it's not quite like that.”
Hu Tao put her hands on her hips and cocked an eyebrow.
“Alright, perhaps I am worried about his condition. We spent nearly every day together, and now he has not even reached out to me once. I thought it would be easier to be patient and let him take the reins, yet I find myself struggling. I am no stranger to grief, but this…is an entirely new and unwelcome sensation.”
“Hm.” Hu Tao tapped her chin as she sat down. “Well, if you ask me, we don't live forever. I think if you want something to happen, you can't wait passively. You should take action.”
“And if I damage our relationship doing so, or hurt him?”
“You cut your losses and live. Would you rather keep going and regret having never spoken to him, or try your luck and have closure?”
Zhongli tutted as he considered it.
“Just a thought.” Hu Tao shrugged. “I don't want my best worker all mopey. Maybe that's what's made you sick.”
“Perhaps I simply acquired an illness from a passerby.”
“Or maybe one of our corpses.” Hu Tao grinned.
Zhongli frowned. “Director Hu.”
“Come on, you should know my humor by now!”
The two conversed through the afternoon as Zhongli finished his tea, then both returned to their work. The issue persisted at the back of Zhongli’s mind as he retired home that evening, striding through the emptying streets of Liyue Harbor and imagining Childe by his side as it had been so many times, imagining his laugh, his focused blue gaze as he listened to Zhongli's tales, longing the sound of his steps and the warmth of his hand when Childe would occasionally grab it to drag him off towards a stall or restaurant.
Never had he thought he'd feel so lonely since Childe entered his life.
As he sat at his dining table with a cup of tea to nurse him to sleep, he found himself coughing violently into his hand. When he opened his palm, a single white petal laid there.
***
Not a single day had been any easier for Childe. His coughing had only worsened, and with it came even more petals. He had taken to finding anything possible to distract himself - extravagant dinners, long and luxurious bubble baths, extended missions in the wilderness - only to be overrun with thoughts of Zhongli no matter what. Frustrated, he headed to the lobby of the hotel to cheer himself up with a bottle of Fonta, only to hear the delighted squeals of children.
There at a table sat two people he recognized - Lyney and Lynette, two members of the Fatui through the House of the Hearth. Lyney beamed as a group of children laughed, a card in his outstretched hand. Childe made a beeline towards them.
Maybe this will get me to think about something fun instead.
As soon as Lyney noticed Childe, a flash of recognition sparkled in his eyes. It was gone within seconds, but Childe smiled back.
He still remembers me!
He waited for the children to have their turn before Lyney said, “And you, good sir! Would you like to experience some magic?”
Childe smirked. “Doesn't cost anything, does it?”
“Only the price of a smile,” Lyney assured.
Childe laughed. “Go on, then. What kind of magic do you have in store?”
Lynette plucked a flower from her pocket before handing it to Lyney. He presented it to the audience. He announced, “This is a lumidouce bell. It’s a common flower here in Fontaine. It’s said to represent parting and the wish for reunion. Unassuming, right? How would you like to see it disappear and reappear right before your eyes?”
With flamboyance and flair, Lyney twirled the flower around in his hands, then tossed it into the air before catching it in his hat. He then dug around in the hat, sticking his tongue out with concentration. He pulled out a playing card and yelped before putting it back in. Next out came a dove’s feather, then a black cat, then somehow a French horn, each causing Lyney more alarm than the last. Finally he retrieved the flower and put the hat back on his head. The audience began clapping, but Lyney shushed them with a finger before burning the flower in his hand to a crisp.
“Now, how does something reduced to ashes reappear?” Lyney put a finger to his chin. “Everyone look around - perhaps it’s somewhere you might not expect.”
The whole crowd, including Childe, started searching high and low for the missing flower. Children dove under tables, pulled back curtains, even checked in pots of tea. Lyney pulled off his hat and began searching through it again.
Somewhere I might not expect, Childe thought. Well, the place he’d least expect it is for it to be on his person. He hadn’t felt anyone touch him nor had he seen Lyney move from his spot. He started patting along his body before feeling a familiar shape on the side of his head.
Lyney beamed. “Ladies and gentlemen! The lumidouce bell.” He gestured towards Childe, leading to a round of applause. Thankfully, there weren’t any other guests sitting around, otherwise Childe would feel partially embarrassed having so many eyes on him. He laughed as Lyney bowed and the children cleared out, leaving himself and the twins alone.
Childe pulled the flower out of his hair as he laughed. “How did you do that?”
“Ah-ah, a magician never reveals his secrets.” Lyney smirked. “It’s good to see you again, Master Childe.”
“It’s good to see you too, but no need to be so formal.” Childe waved his hands. “You sure you haven’t used magic to grow up? You’re taller than last time.”
“It’s been several years,” Lynette supplied. “What are you doing here in Fontaine?”
“I’m on vacation.” Childe grinned.
“I trust it’s been relaxing?” Lyney asked. “Fontaine is certainly a nation nobody would want to miss out on seeing.”
“Of course!” Childe replied, even through the frustration of his vacation having been exactly the opposite. As if on cue, he wondered if Zhongli would be enjoying himself here in Fontaine, and he started coughing even more violently than he had been this week.
Lyney and Lynette’s faces shifted into concern and Lynette’s ears turned downward. Childe tried to wave it off and desperately claim, “I’m okay,” through the coughs.
“Clearly you’re not okay,” Lyney argued with a frown as he ushered Childe into a chair and Lynette scrambled to make some tea. “That cough sounds nasty. How long have you had it?”
Childe hit his fist against his chest as he coughed up a handful of petals. Lyney grimaced.
“You haven’t been eating flowers, have you?” he joked as he gathered up the petals. “Hey, these are from lumidouce bells. You really have been eating them!”
“No, no, it’s not that.” Childe sighed. “I guess I caught something on the way here, because ever since I got here a week ago, I’ve been coughing up flower petals. It’s only gotten worse with time.”
Lynette set a cup of soothing tea in front of him. “You should drink this. It’ll help your throat. And maybe go to a doctor.”
Lyney nodded. “I’m sure there’s a professional here who can help you.”
“You’ve been…coughing up flowers?”
Everyone turned to find Freminet walking over from a corner with Pers tucked close to his chest. “Sorry…I couldn’t help but overhear.”
“It’s okay, Fremi!” Lyney ushered him over. “Do you know anything about it?”
“Um, well…” Freminet studied the ground. “There’s this tale that originates from Inazuma…I read a book about it. Occasionally, when people meet their soulmate but haven’t confessed to them yet, they develop a strange disease where flowers grow in their lungs and they cough them up. The flowers always mean something, and it typically gets worse the more they think about their soulmate. It can only be cured through a confession. If not, then…” Freminet trembled. “…they’ll die.”
Lyney’s mouth went agape. “Hey, don’t scare him. I mean, that’s just a tall tale, right?”
Lynette bit her lip. “Not all tales are false. We all know about Fontaine’s prophecy…”
Their worried voices were drowned out by the thoughts in Childe’s head as he stared into the cup of tea.
If I don’t confess to Zhongli, I’ll die? That can’t be right, though. He can’t be my soulmate. How can an archon be soulmates with a mortal human? This doesn’t make any sense.
He stood up. “Thanks for the tea, you three, it was good to catch up, but I just remembered I have a bus to catch.” He waved goodbye even as they protested and hurried outside, cutting straight through the city to find some patch of wilderness where he could lay down and think about everything.
It can’t be real. It’s just a book. It’s just a silly, kind of dark book that Freminet read. It’s not real.
But how could I be coughing up flowers otherwise? Flowers that apparently mean “a wish for reunion?”
What am I supposed to do?
*
The past week had not quite been business as usual for Zhongli. In fact, he was troubled by this strange new illness that plagued him. His coughing was getting increasingly worse with each new day. The petals were becoming more frequent. He had taken to researching diseases in an attempt to find some form of explanation, poring over books until late into the night and scouring every bit of knowledge he could find, but his efforts were fruitless.
Just what was wrong with him? Was this a normal part of being human? He had never gotten sick as an archon. Maybe giving up the Gnosis had side effects, though the Tsaritsa had assured him it practically meant nothing and he wouldn't be weakened by its removal.
He pondered about it through the week, trying to distract himself with his work for the parlor and using herbal remedies and teas to ease his throat.
Hu Tao eventually kicked him out for coughing so much and ordered him not to come back until he had seen a doctor.
It wasn't quite that he was refusing to see a doctor - he was just so unsure of how medical treatment for an adeptus might work. He thought his tea and herbs would be able to do the job, but alas. He headed up the stairs to Bubu Pharmacy with an enclosed jar of the flower petals he had been coughing up. He hated to disturb Dr. Baizhu later in the evening, but he preferred not to make a scene by showing his illness around crowds of people.
The pharmacy was quiet, the moon blanketing it in cold light as Zhongli entered. Qiqi looked up and greeted him as he arrived, though not by name.
“Is Dr. Baizhu in tonight, little miss?” Zhongli asked, stooping down to her level.
“Ah, I'm right here,” a voice said from behind him as Baizhu strode in and set down a box on the counter. “Mr. Zhongli, it's a surprise to see you. What did you need?”
Zhongli stood up and shifted from side to side. “I believe I may be ill, Dr. Baizhu, with some kind of condition that I cannot parse.”
Changsheng raised her head. “The ever-stone Zhongli, sick? How curious.”
Baizhu tilted his head. “I see. Follow me and let’s get this sorted.” He led Zhongli to his back room and gestured for him to sit down. He sat across from him. “What symptoms have you been experiencing?”
“I have this persistent cough that has not been remedied by any of my usual teas or other medicines for a week now,” Zhongli explained. “And…” He set down the jar. “With every cough, flower petals come out.”
Baizhu froze, then took the jar and removed the lid. He carefully picked up a petal and studied it. “A glaze lily?” he determined.
“We would be able to bring it back from extinction if we allow him to keep coughing it up,” Changsheng suggested.
“Changsheng,” Baizhu admonished. He twirled the petal in his fingers. “Glaze lilies…associated with memories and regret. Has there been something on your mind lately, Mr. Zhongli?”
“Many such things,” Zhongli replied, “though I suppose one person has been in my thoughts recently.”
Baizhu sighed, chewing on his lip. “Mr. Zhongli, I can’t put this lightly. You have developed a disease known as hanahaki. The name originates from Inazuma, where it was first written about. This disease affects someone who has met their soulmate, but has yet to confess to them. Both parties develop flowers growing in their lungs and will cough them up, their condition getting increasingly worse until they die. The only cure is to confess to each other. Now, an adeptus might have the capability to purge the flowers from their body and save themselves…but should a human be affected, they will most certainly pass if nothing is done.”
Zhongli let the information sink in, taking deep breaths as if that would help him feel the flowers rooted in his lungs. He clenched his hands on his knees.
“I understand if this is distressing,” Baizhu continued. “Should you require any assistance from me-”
“That will not be necessary,” Zhongli interrupted as he stood up. “Thank you for your time, Dr. Baizhu. I know what needs to be done.”
Baizhu smiled. “Of course. Good luck, and please don’t waste any time.”
Zhongli nodded as he exited with his usual grace and elegance, only for his steps to become panicked and his pace to quicken the second he reached the outside of the pharmacy.
Childe’s life is on the line. I can’t let someone be lost so soon to something so preventable.
First, though, I need to find out where he is, and I know just the person to ask.
***
The sun’s rays shimmered across the ocean's surface as it slowly dipped below the horizon. Orange and red tinted the sky, catching strands of Childe's hair and lighting it aflame. A trail of blood-spattered petals and eventually full flowers followed his collapsed figure on the grass. Sunflowers surrounded him, swaying gently in the breeze.
This may be the last sunset I ever see.
It had only been a few days since he had seen Lyney and his siblings, but his condition had taken a turn for the worse. It wasn’t long before he started seeing blood in his coughs and entire flowers to come bursting out of his mouth. He lost his appetite and could hardly bring himself to stand, let alone walk. With all his willpower, he made it to a lone patch of land in the Fontainian countryside and sat watching the ocean waves kiss the shore.
This reminds me…of Yaoguang Shoal…with the starconches…
He breathed shallowly and coughed violently, another lumidouce bell releasing itself from his throat.
Zhongli took me to see the beach because I was feeling homesick…he let me listen to the conches…
And the sunflowers here…they’re just like the ones in Snezhnaya…
How cruel of an end, to languish away stranded in the nation of justice, enamored with the man of contracts, abandoned by the goddess of love. How was he supposed to tell his family? Who was going to look for him?
He laughed weakly, which only made him cough again.
I thought I’d go out in a blaze of glory, not like this…
There’s no way that Zhongli could really be in love with me…
As he closed his eyes and resigned himself to his fate, a voice called for him.
“…ilde…”
Ah, a hallucination. I’ve had that a million times when close to death like this.
“…ilde!”
What, am I going to start having my life flash before my eyes now?
“Childe!”
Why does that voice sound so familiar?
“Childe?”
A pair of hands grasped his face and tilted it upwards. Childe struggled to open his eyes, finding a pair of amber ones studying him, wide with concern.
Zhongli?
“Childe.” And Zhongli started hacking, a flower of his own bursting forth from his mouth. It was a deep blue, glowing bright in the diminishing sunlight. “I arrived as fast as I could. I asked Ekaterina where you were, and-” He swallowed, choking back tears. “I’m so glad you’re still here.”
“Barely,” Childe replied, his voice a whisper.
One of Zhongli’s hands scrambled to take Childe’s in his own. “Childe, I love you.”
“Ajax.”
“…what?”
Childe tried to prop himself up on his elbows. “If you’re going to do…some sappy love confession…call me by my name. Ajax.”
“Ajax…I l-”
And then Childe surged forward, kissing the words right out of Zhongli’s mouth.
Only a moment after their lips connected, both had to separate to cough up flowers once more. Full blooms of pink exited them. They watched in awe as all the flowers and petals from earlier suddenly lifted into the air and floated along the breeze, passing by them like the lanterns at Lantern Rite. Childe instantly felt a weight off his shoulders and a burst of energy back in him, though his strength failed him when he tried to sit up. Zhongli caught him.
“Don’t strain yourself,” he admonished.
“Zhongli.” Childe put on a serious face. “You…you’re my soulmate?”
Zhongli smiled and nodded. “Forever and always.”
Childe rubbed the back of his neck. “Sheesh, and here I’ve been acting like a massive jerk…I didn’t even think this was a thing, much less that you would be my soulmate.”
Zhongli chuckled. “There is no need to worry. I understand that you were upset by my withholding of information from you. I assure you that I did not mean it to hurt you - it was simply part of the plan.”
“Water under the bridge now.” Childe waved his hand. “You just saved my life.”
“As you have just done for me.”
Childe’s eyes widened. “Archons, yeah, we kind of saved each other’s lives just now, didn’t we?”
Zhongli rubbed his thumb across the apple of Childe’s cheek. “We have. And I would be honored to spend the rest of our lives together, if you would have me.”
Childe rolled his eyes. “Can’t say no to that.” He gave him a kiss on the nose. “I owe you about three hundred dinners, anyway.”
“Our first dinner as romantic partners…I’d like to spend it in Liyue, if we may?”
“Of course. That’s practically home for us now, isn’t it?”
“Home is wherever you are, my darling.”
“Alright, alright, don’t start getting all sappy, it’s only been five minutes…”
And as the stars started to show their faces in the sky above, the pair stood and made their way back to the city, ready to share the night once more.