Runaway

Chapter 2 ~ The ginger

"Zhongli?" The faint voice of someone calling his name reached his ears. Terrified that it was Baizhu, he turned to the ginger man.

"Please! Hide me!" Zhongli desperately turned towards the man. He saw those blue eyes widened in shock but complied. Grabbing his smaller hand in his, the man brought him to his expensive sports car. He opened the door and Zhongli bolted inside, still scared Baizhu saw him

"So, mind telling me why?" The ginger sat next to him, placing his jacket around the smaller male. "And what are you wearing in this weather? It's freezing!"

"I-I'm hiding from someone." His voice trembled. This man was a total stranger but it was either follow him or get beaten by Baizhu.

"Hm? Well, you seem uncomfortable with the subject so let's leave it there. My name's Childe Tartaglia."

"Zhongli Dei."

"You don't look Snezhnayan."

"I'm Liyuen."

"Makes sense." Childe nodded at him before tapping the seat in front of him. "Take us home."

The driver in the front seat nodded at Childe before driving off.

"You have such a pretty name, Zhongli." The ginger gave a warm smile at the brunette, seeing his nerves calm down.

"A-Ah? Thank you..." Zhongli blushed at the compliment. He never could handle praise well. He sat a good distance away from the bigger man, hoping that he wasn't some bitchy person. The rest of the ride went in silence.

"Sir? We're here." The driver alerted the 2. Childe thanked him before the door opened. He got out before extending a hand to help Zhongli, legs still fragile and tired from running. Once Zhongli was outside the car, he looked up at the building before him and his jaw dropped in shock. He was outside a mansion with 2 bodyguards waiting for them. Or more presumably, waiting for the ginger.

"Who's that, sir?"

"Well, he needed shelter from the upcoming winter and I just so happened to run into him."

"That's nice, sir. Now, let us go inside."

Zhongli stood at the doorway, nervous to enter the big house.

"Huh? It's alright, buddy, I don't bite." Childe extended a hand to him and he slowly took it once more. Zhongli followed the ginger, still holding his hand, a sense of comfort and warmth greeting him as he stepped into the building.

"Ajax dear, how have you been?" A woman came up to greet them. She was quite small and her ginger hair was neatly in a bun.

"I've been fine, mom." Childe sighed as she first turned to look at him and then her eyes slowly trailed to Zhongli.

"Oh my Tsaritsa! Whatever happened to you?" The woman immediately ran to Zhongli and began to fuss over him. The sudden attention scared him at first.

"Don't scare him, mom." Childe chuckled softly as the brunette's eyes widened in surprise as the woman began to talk about his wounds. Wait, wounds? Now that they weren't in the cold Snezhnayan night and instead in the warmth and light of his house, he got a better look at him. And there was blood everywhere. His shirt was stained, dried blood matted the longer strands of hair and his body had several untreated cuts.

"Ajax, what in Celestia did you do to him?" His mother turned to him and gave Childe a glare.

"Nothing, mom!" Childe immediately protested. She still eyed him suspiciously but trusted his word.

"Well, since you brought him back, you'll take care of him." Childe's mom gave Zhongli to him before taking her leave and left the 2 males alone together.

"So, are you hungry?" Childe looked at the brunette in his arms. He nodded and the 2 walked to the kitchen. Childe grabbed a few items of food and placed them in front of Zhongli. As the brunette silently ate them, the ginger went and picked up the first aid kit nearby and tended to his wounds.

"Thank you..." Zhongli whispered to him. This was all very new, still worried for his kids.

"No problem. But, if I may ask, how did you get these?" Childe got up and sat across from him. Zhongli froze. He just met this man. Was this kidnapping?

"Hey, you don't have to tell me." Childe gave him a reassuring smile. Zhongli stared at him once again before asking a few questions.

"Is this...kidnapping?"

"You asked to come along so I don't think so?"

"Is it okay if I...stay here?"

"I don't see why not. I'm afraid that despite the sheer size of this building, we don't have any spare rooms." Childe nervously chuckled. Zhongli seemed unaffected by this problem.

"I'll just sleep on the couch. No hassle." Zhongli stood up but his legs betrayed, giving way. If he didn't grab the table in time, he would be lying in a crumpled heap on the floor.

"No, no, no! Not like this! I'll sleep on the couch. You take my bedroom." Childe went over to him and picked him off the ground. He slipped a hand under his knees and one to support his back.

"E-Eh?" Zhongli made a noise of surprise at the sudden change in position. Childe carried him to his bedroom. Once inside, Childe took a few blankets and pillows, telling him that the closet was free for him to use and if he needed anything, just ask before he left, leaving the very confused brunette alone. Too many things happened that night for Zhongli to comprehend in the moment. In the morning he was saying goodbye to Baizhu and now he was living with some rich guy. Not wanting to soil the bed but too tired to change, Zhongli threw his shorts and shirt on the floor, promising to clean it up later. He got under the blue comforter, inhaling the salty sea scent in the process. His mind was too preoccupied with the safety of his kids and what Baizhu would do to them. Baizhu...the name brought fear to him. Maybe one day he could tell Childe. As he was busy thinking, his body persuaded him to slowly drift off into a peaceful sleep, a certain form of shelter from that day.
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