Falling for You

Chapter 19 - Someone dear to me

Zhongli's POV

 "I'm back!" A cheerful voice sounded as the door opened.

 "You were away for quite a long time, Ajax." I looked at him from the couch.

 "I'm sorry, xiansheng, I tried coming back faster, I really did, but I was held up by something in Snezhnaya." He apologized sitting down next to me.

 "It's been three months."

 "I'm really sorry, please forgive me just this once." He pleaded.

 "Was it her?"

 "Who?"

 "Was it the Tsaritsa that held you up so long?"

 "No, no, not this time. I just couldn't get away from my family." He explained.

 "That's fine then. But next time, at least sent me a letter. Had you come back just a day later, you probably would have met me halfway to Snezhnaya." I pulled him into a hug, finally getting rid of all my worries.

 "If you want to visit your family, just say so and we can go together."

 "Really?" He shot up excitedly.

 "Really."

 "You're the best, xiansheng!" He jumped onto me hugging me tightly.

 Just as was about today something else, a familiar dark green smoke filled the room.

 "Xiao? Why are you here...?" I choked on my words.

 Xiao appeared in the room panting, holding onto what looked like a wounded person.

 "Just what-"

 "Please save him." Xiao interrupted me for the first time in his life.

 He looked like a mess, covered in blood and something that looked like snow. For a second I wondered just who he was holding for him to become like this, till I caught the scent of something. 

 The wind

 The person Xiao was holding smelled like the wind. It was a subtle scent, something that even Xiao couldn't smell, but I could.

 "Barbatos?" I jumped up from the couch, for once, ignoring Ajax's confused look.

 When I got closer I could finally see him clearly. The one Xiao was holding was indeed Barbatos, but how did he end up this way.

 "What happened?"

 "On Dragonspine the ice broke and I fell into a cavern, but I couldn't teleport or use anemo energy, then Venti jumped after me, I think, we both fell and I passed out, he was like this when I woke up. Morax, please tell me he'll be fine. I really..."

 He just threw out everything in one go and continued to ramble further. He was anxious, extremely so, and right now, I needed him calm.

 "Xiao. Xiao! Alatus!" Finally, at the third call, he stopped talking and looked at me.

 "Third room on the left in empty. Let him lie down there. I'll be there in a moment."

 Now, somewhat calmer, Xiao nodded and quickly walked towards the room.

 "Zhongli, did you say Barbatos just now?" Ajax obviously couldn't help asking in the end.

 Had it been any other time, I would have gladly answered him, but now...

 "Childe," I called out to him, addressing him by his allies rather than his name.

 Hearing how I addressed him his expression turned somewhat more serious but his curiosity was still showing.