Two Years

Ajax had left his home, and never returned, he left to pursue the woman who stole his heart only for it t be crushed and blown away. Lumine found her own soulmate in Inazuma, A princess of the Kamisato household. Ajax never felt heartbreak before, and this must've been it, empty and very gnawing at your heart as another loved the one you did. How they giggled and held hands together with more giggles and pink cheeks. Ayaka looked so close to passing out as they walked around, so easily flustered as Lumine leads her around.

This must've been what [M/N] felt for the time they were married. It had to be, this must be some cruel fate especially with the letter he was delivering. 

You are invited to the Wedding of Kamisato Ayaka and Lumine.

RSVP

Once the boat stops, Ajax gets off the barrel as the plank is placed down on the wooden dock, people waved at others that gotten off the boat as Ajax made his way through without trouble. Ningguang had pardoned him surprisingly after what he had done, which he hoped was her good favor after mothering a child of one of the boat Captain's children. Ajax moved away from the welcoming crowds and exciting calls of children that see their parents.

"I wonder what he's been doing." Ajax was out of the loop from [M/N]'s life, he had been paying more focus on helping Lumine and the search for her brother. Not to mention liking the new discovery of the Islands on Inazuma. "He's shop is closed." He noticed as he began walking back to the home, maybe [M/N] stayed there after all these times.

"I wonder if he remarried..."

"Ba! Ba!"

Ajax stops as he passed [M/N]'s old shop, and watched a little girl call for her father. His eyes glanced for the father and slowly began watching towards the little girl but stops when a figure comes up from the store, a bag of food hanging off his arm. "Zhongli?"

"Oh? Tartagila! It's been quite a while since I had seen you, given news of La Signora's death." He said as the little girl coos a bit as she moved towards Zhongli's leg. The little girl tugged on Zhongli's leg with a toothless smile, Zhongli gently rubbed her head a bit. "How are you?"

"I've been fine...Scaramouche had been a pain and Lumine..well.."

"Oh, are you two married yet? I would expect her with you or children." Ajax felt his lips twitched a bit and inhale sharply. "Oh, you two..."

"Are not together, I was actually here to deliver a letter to [M/N], she's getting married and wanted him to make her a traditional Inazuma dress." Ajax held up a lavender color letter between his fingers. Zhongli hummed, smiling as he moved down and takes the tiny girl in his arms, she giggled at the attention and sucked on her thumb. Ajax smiles before noticing the soft [E/C] eyes that stared at him, they looked so much like...

No..Zhongli and he couldn't..

"Hi.." She said softly as Ajax snapped out of his trance, no way Zhongli and [M/N] could create a child. Adepti or not, they couldn't!

"Hi, what's your name?" Ajax asked as Zhongli nudged the little girl but she turns her head and shoved it into Zhongli's shoulder. He gives a laugh, "Sorry, she's a tad shy, unlike her brothers."

"You have more than one kid?" Ajax asked, as his eyes brighten a bit.

"Three, and I'm planning another one soon perhaps. I just wanted to give my body time to relax." Ajax smiles, though it wasn't a happy one but a one with some sort of relation, that [M/N] did have kids with a man that could give them to him and pushed down the envy that came with it.

You wanted Lumine and now this is your consequence, suffer.

"Would you like to come to see him? I'm sure he would be happy to see you as a friend." Zhongli said with another smile. The little girl played with strains of Zhongli's hair, and Ajax sighs a bit with a smile.

"Sure my old friend."

----

"Papa! Papa!"

The little girl in Zhongli's arms began shouting as they reached the most expensive houses near the borders of Mt.Tianheng. There was a large home that had a sense and lovely colors that fit the lovely home aesthetic. A home that Ajax had dreamed of years ago, and a couple of dogs as well that would be barking as he came home.

They walked up the stone steps and the little girl began shouting louder, as Ajax watched, and was amazed as tiny golden horns began showing up on her temples, "PAPA!"

"Coming! Coming LI." A voice called as steps were heard and the door opens to show [M/N]. He was a bit grown, a few inches taller, and seemed so calm and happy, he smiles a bit and his eyes moved to Ajax.

Ajax felt his heart hurt and felt butterflies coming from his stomach this time. [M/N] gives him a one time over and Ajax noticed a bundle strapped to his back, a baby in a little baby back bag to hold a baby when the parent was cooking or walking. "Hello-"

"Ajax."

"Y-Yeah..that's my name."

"I know, what can I do for Yo-"

"PAPA~!"

LI squeals and Zhongli gives a laugh as [M/N] takes her, he gives her cheek a raspberry and she grins with another squeal. Zhongli smiles as Li is placed down and [M/N] nuzzles Zhongli's cheek before kissing it, "My love, thank you." He said as he takes the bag of food as the baby yawns. He had most of Zhongli's features like LI but the eyes.

So much of [M/N]...

"Zhu missed you."

"He must've, but where's-" There was a crash inside and then a loud clink of a polearm hitting the wooden floor. Zhongli sighs as [M/N] felt annoyance hit him. "Inside, Meilin has been practicing his weapon since you left."

"I am sorry.."

"Go." Zhongli hurried inside with LI, as [M/N] looked at Ajax but he was gone. Nothing but a letter in his place. His eyes glanced around as he heard Zhongli scold their oldest son for the new moves that Uncle Xiao showed him. [M/N] bends down and takes the letter up, he looked to the front of the letter. He grins a bit, shaking his head.

"I knew Karma would've come..and I've been a good boy waiting for it."

"Ba!"

"Coming." [M/N] looks at the letter and closed the door behind him.

Ajax made sure [M/N] went inside and he sighs to himself as he pulled away from the tree. He watched the home and how they were, the clear view of them all laughing despite the oldest son pouting that Zhongli took his weapon. He looked to be ten but it must've been those adepti genes. He looked like a tiny [M/N] with beautiful amber eyes that Zhongli had.

His fist clenched a bit before shaking the feeling away, he wanted to leave..to get away and live a make-believed life with Lumine but at the end lost her to another. Ajax lost the home that he made with [M/N] to another person that deserved him and now grew a family. He had his family back home, they were all he needed but Ajax knew the one that he had was inside the home. [M/N] has his own family now, his husband and getting ready to have another child.

You deserve this..

you ruined your life...

You're to blame for all of this pain...

A voice said in his head as he began walking away back to Liyue Harbor, Ajax ignored it as he walked. Each step was as painful as the last, his eyes closed as he rubbed his head a bit. 

You deserved the pain

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THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE VIEWS! THIS IS THE END OF THIS BOOK, BUT THE NEXT ONE WILL BE UP AROUND THE END OF THE WEEK! PLEASE READ IT IF YOU LOVE ZHONGLI, DIFFERENT PLOT, PEOPLE, ECT!

THIS IS BOOK ONE OF 

LOVE ME TILL IT HURTS [1]