Scara is mentioned to have a partner in this chapter,you may interpert whatever character you choose bc I was too lazy to pick one and make it somehow belong to the plot in a way that makes any sense, and If u hc him as ace /aro than im sorry. U can just hc that they break up later down the story in this au or smth.  (Also sorry this chapter is shit)

The chilly winter wind smacked the window that belonged to Childe and Zhongli's house, shaking the glass panel violently. The thin ice danced across the window seal, resulting in beautiful patterns curved and curled gracefully, tracing the glass panel in laces of designs. Nature's art at this time of year was exceptionally gorgeous. Childe's eyes fluttered open, slowly adjusting to the light. He arose from his deep slumber, swiftly rotating his plain of view to the opposite side of the bed to greet his lover. Much to his surprise, there was no burnet to be found dozed off next to him .

The sound of snow shuffling  noticeably outside caught Childe's attention. Curious, he stood up to investigate the odd commotion. Unexpectedly, a flash of blinding white snow exploded onto the glass. Childe flinched naturally, rushing to the window after the scare to figure out where all the racket was orriginated. He peered outside after wiping away the chilly, humid fog blocking the view of the house's exterior. Upon looking down on his driveway, he noticed his boyfriend standing still in the arctic weather. Next to him sat the paved words 'I <3 YOU' shoveled out in the snow. Zhongli stood with a warm, innocent smile to compliment the sentiment.

Childe cupped his mouth in shock, blushing intensely at the words scribbled out in front of him. He immediately grabbed a pair of boots and stuck them on. Despite Zhongli's heartwarming kindness already providing Childe natural warmth, Childe slithered into a coat sloppily. He ran outside, frantically waving his hands above his head excitedly. Zhongli held his arms wide open, expecting a loving hug to follow. As if Zhongli could predict the very future, Childe did just that. Childe collided straight into his grasp, nuzzling his shivering, red face into Zhongli's warm chest.

"I love you so much! You shouldn't have thought! Really! It's super cold out here! You should've stayed indoors with me to cuddle and keep warm!" Childe squealed, thanking him yet complaining all at once.                                                                                                                                                    

"Oh, you see I couldn't stay inside and let all this snow pile up! Someone has to shovel the snow. And I didn't want to burden you with the tedious chore of doing so." Zhongli attempted to adjust Childe's point of view.

"But I don't get cold as easily as you do! I grew up in this terrain for Archon's sake! Come inside right this instant! I will NOT stand for you catching a cold because of your selflessness." Childe demanded, failing to sound as sweet as his intentions.                                                                                        

"Hm..nope, not happening. " Zhongli refused, half teasing the irritated ginger with a dreaded playful smile.

"-MOM! I DON'T WANNA GO OUTSIDE! I ALREADY TOLD YOU I HATE THE COLD! AND THE SNOW! AND WINTER!" The voice of an angered adolescent boy yelled from across the street.

The voice of a stern woman followed soon after. "I must take pictures of you in the snow. Sit still."

"You heard your mother~ Be good for us won't you?" Another sly voice replied. 

"Ah, it's the Raiden family. " Zhongli notified Childe, ignoring the annoyed face he was displaying. 

Ei had heard the familiarly deep voice and immediately spotted Zhongli. "Mr. Zhongli," Yae took notice of the other man in his presence. "And his overly clingy boy toy." Childe heard the remark and rolled his eyes, bothered. "Zhongli, can we please go back inside? Your friends don't like me, I don't want to disturb them and their son any longer. "Childe lied, trying to frame himself to look like the victim ,paired with a fake set of puppy eyes ,and an innocent demeanor.

Childe had troubled feelings towards the teen boy that they called their son. Scaramouche specifically always had something to spit out and piss him off.

"Ajax, be nice. They don't hate you, okay? Just be calm and try not to say anything offensive. And I mean it ." Zhongli sincerely cautioned his boyfriend, pulling his face in closer to his by his chin and whispering the harsh warning into his ear. Zhongli surely knew how to make Childe shut up, it wasn't always an ideal way of handling things, but it worked wonders. Childe watched in amazement as Zhongli unhinged him from his protective embrace. 

Zhongli casually approached the two women and their displeased child."Ei, Miko. Happy to see you two once again. " Zhongli leaned over Ei's shoulder to toss a wave of friendliness to the young boy . Although, he seemed much too busy moping on a small, snow-blanketed bench to care enough to offer acknowledgment in return. Regardless of Zhongli's aim to be as kind as possible, Scaramouche only rolled his eyes and folded his arms in a coarse attitude. He was very bluntly upset at his parent's decision to drag him out into the freezing weather, their only purpose to amuse themselves with photos. 

Zhongli shrugged it aside as the kid not caring more than he should. "How have you three been doing recently? " Zhongli asked frankly, trying to open a simple conversation smoothly.

"Oh, we've been fine. Nothing much to query about here." Yae started, getting cut off suddenly by her fiance.

"Our son has found himself a partner. We have had several talks with him. He seems to resent us more every time we try to get him to speak of the matter. " Ei blurted out unexpectedly.

"MOM! I TOLD YOU TO KEEP IT A SECRET!" Scaramouche shouted, embarrassed that he had so effortlessly been outed by his mother.

"Scara, do not raise your voice at your mother." Ei shot back, receiving but a simple annoyed scoff in return.

Zhongli politley giggled. Seeing teens be as stubborn to their parents as he once was always gave him something to reminisce on.  

"Well, congratulations to your son. I'm sure he has reason to  be in relations with this 'partner' of his ." Zhongli spoke through a helpless smirk. A light smile that represented the humor in which he found when Scaramouche presented flustered at the mention of his partner.

The adults' conversation continued through many minutes, as they had much to catch up on. Zhongli and Ei's pasts were intertwined, being dear friends in their high school years. At some point, people started mistaking them for a couple. An awkward bubbling tension was created, ensuring the eventual fallout of their friendship.

Childe stood just as annoyed as the teen sitting behind the adults. Both  glared into the mature adults direction with a nerved scowl plastered on their strawberry pink tinted faces. Both firmly put, crossing their arms and solemnizing, waiting patiently for their peers to end their lengthy encounter. Even if it brought Childe glorious amounts of joy to see Zhongli be happy and flourish, he wanted his face to be the one he was grinning at, not the vibrantly violet-haired girl.

Lavender irises made their way to the grumpy, pale man that sorrowfully slumped in the blinding background. Her rosy voluptuous hair swayed in the sharp, bitter air, yet somehow not leaving an ounce of the chilled white substance in her blush-resembling locks. Her fox eyes darted right into the helpless male's soul, striking pins and needles of fear to jab him in the throat, making it challenging to breathe accordingly. Allegedly, she noticed the fear she had caused. She made the risky decision to play dumb. She accepted the alarmed expression on his face and decided to speak up.                                                                                                                                          

"Somebody appears to be quite the envious boyfriend~" Yae giggled, tugging at Childe's thinning patience for her devilish tricks.

The expression on Childe's face grew bitter. His face wore an even more threatening scowl that the evil fox lady fueled persistently. "I'm in no way jealous! I'm just c-cold! Yeah, that's it! Who cares if Zhongli talks to anybody anyways? Not me!" Childe unconvincingly spouts, attempting to steer attention amiss from the truth that he was indeed jealous.                   

 "It's alright, Ajax. I can even become jealous of Ei at times. Although I suppose it just comes more naturally to some than others when controlling it~" Yae spoke tauntingly, developing a spice of sass in her tone.

Once Yae released Childe's given name from her mouth, both the men froze in shock. Nobody but Zhongli and Childe's siblings was allowed to utter such a name. Such a rule was strict and quickly made known to everyone that crossed paths with him. So to witness this crime become a thing of the past, Childe was astonished. Someone dared to bend his laws. Of course, it was Yae Miko who had to be the one to disobey him. Sneaky, untrustworthy, Yae Miko.

A  tension so thick it smelled of smoke formed in the air. Sharp gazes were exchanged from one person to the other in a battle of righteous stares. And finally, after sitting in an unsettling silence for numerous awkward moments, Zhongli found the courage to speak. "Thank you for this meeting. And for your time Ei. " Stressing the name Zhongli spat, "It does seem, however, that our partners are far too irresponsible to partake in conversation peacefully."

"Yes, it seems that way. So farewell old friend, may our paths cross again soon." Ei replied in return, showing agreement in his bold statement. 

Yae only scuffed at the brave remark, soon realizing her attitude had been met with the appropriate punishment, a taste of her own medicine. To her, it tasted bittersweet, strikingly offending, but fun for being challenged with an opponent willing to cut at her soft spots.

"Aw..what a pity..I was beginning to have some real fun, instead of arguing with a mindless child(e). " Yae derided, still showing off her sharp grin. 

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  _______________________________

Once the couple and their teenager had vanished into their residence, the two males stood embracing tightly at the scene. Childe continued to sulk in awe at the rude discussion that had just taken place.

                                                                                                                                                                                              "Why would she just disrespect me like that?" Childe groaned, not attempting to ignore the situation.

"I know, it feels quite the opposite of good. I can only imagine..." Zhongli offered a comforting response, "Come, let us return indoors. It's warmer inside anyways."

                                                                                                                                                                                              "Okay.." Childe agreed, still nuzzled into Zhongli's soothing chest.

Eventually, the Childe resided slumped on his couch, staring regretfully at the ground. He sighed at the empty sound in the room. The colorless light that peered through the window of the house helped not, resulting in an even more grayscale-resembling display.Abruptly, Zhongli entered the life-draining room. All at once, the room suddenly fills with color and liveliness. He sat directly beside the exhausted ginger, reaching out to hand over a cup of rich, warm hot cocoa, a welcoming smile complimenting the kind gesture. Childe accepted the drink with little hesitation, immediately noticing a second cup of the sweet liquid in Zhongli's opposite hand.

                                                                                                                                                                                                      "I see you're still a bit bummed out, mind telling me what's wrong? Other than the obvious?" Zhongli questioned lovingly.

"Thanks for the cocoa, I appreciate it a lot...I guess I just feel guilty." Childe confessed, being as vague as possible, to somehow soften the conversations depth.

"Hm..? Guilty? Whatever for Aja-.. dear?" Zhongli stuttered, spilling a minor error in his sentence. 

"Hey..you were about to call me Ajax, why'd you stop yourself?" Stalled Childe curiously. 

"Agh..my mistake..I just didn't know If you'd mind being called Ajax after what happened earlier.." Zhongli let out, expressing concern in his tone sincerly.

"Oh Zhongli...how thoughtful of you..Damn it your so sweet! I wasn't quite mad at the fact that she'd called me by my birth name, but by the fact that she so willingly dishonored my rule." Explained Childe, he could'nt help but crack a grin at the kind phrase.

"Agh, I see. I know how erm...blunt..Yae can appear..but she means more fun than harm Ajax. And also, I should apologize for what I said following your queral with Yae. I had to end the argument before it escalated, your anger level in that moment concerned me greatly.. I only halted you to keep everyone safe. I guess you could say I was being...Protective." The lengthy pharagraph slid out of Zhongli's mouth effortlessly. Not an once of hesitance or second guessing could be heard in his voice. It was confident and stern, but the sterness of his voice was never to scold, but to sooth. Clear and concise one would say .    

Slightly caught off guard, Childe's jaw dropped. Any sort of expression towards commitment of the relationship was precious, hence the melting of Childe's heart.  And suddenly, his courage was revived.  "How adorable~" He blurted desirebly.

Immediately, Zhongli's face warmed up, presenting a red along with it. "O-oh...Well I suppose so...Although my intentions were not connected to such anticipations.." 

"Maybe ,but you can't deny how heroic that was of you." Childe pushed ,forcing Zhongli to develope into a flustered mess.

Childe leaned forward, attempting to seduce the much surprised man. Much to his dismay, Zhongli avoided his advances, backing away from the tempting offer.

"Y-you never did answer my question Ajax, what's on your mind?" Zhongli unfittingly suggested, passign up Childe's nonverbal offer. 

Childe returned to his natural sitting state, let down by the sudden change in his aura. "Oh...well I mean I don't really wanna talk about it right now..I'm afraid it may ruin the mood." Childe quavered dubiously.

"I've already done the honors of ruining any trace of romance." Zhongli giggled childfullishly. Though upon seeing the dismay in Childe's eyes, he relaized what he had to do.

"Childe," Zhongli motioned for his partner to fall into his arms once again. "You look tired dear, if you don't want to talk, then save your breath. " And just like that, he began to hum. He sang the tune that echoed throughout Liyue's towering mountains, a tune calm and old. 

"Your voice is so nice...If your voice was a song, it'd be my favorite one. " Childe softly spoke, enjoying his time in his partner's presence. 

"Is that so..? Well then...thank you..I suppose your voice is quite um..exciting." The once again flustered man annunced.

Childe chuckled, the comment was odd, but he just figured that under an aroused mind, Zhongli's thinking had been tampered with. "Hehe! What do you mean by that ?"

"Oh..ugh..I guess I just become rather happy when I hear your voice, it reminds me that I am not alone." Zhongli admitted ,staring away from the ginger and avoid any to all eye contact.

"Well I'm glad to hear that my voice can lift your mood, but I fear that wasn't the case earlier," Childe frowned into his words. "I'm afraid all I could do was upset you with my immature argument."

"Oh love...You've done nothing but flatter me! I was awed by your sheer bravery, and honored that such a soul would bother protecting me!" Zhongli snapped back at him, ensuring his partner's final mood would be happiness and content with hismself.

"Really? I didn't know you felt that way...Makes sense though, I'm always worried about you." Childe reognized.

"Well enough of that then, I am here to ease that worry. Now kiss me." Zhongli proposed studiously. 

And with that, the two embraced in a kind hearted kiss, keeping each other warm in the midst of the unforgiving weather. And for the rest of the crisp winter, that warmth stayed present in one another's hearts.