The suit that Zhongli buys him fits like a glove but Childe didn't expect anything else but perfection. Zhongli might be more relaxed around him, letting those sharp edges of his being soften slightly, but outside of their quiet little world, he's still a famous CEO with all eyes and ears on him.

"I think you're more nervous than I am," murmurs Zhongli, not unkindly. It's warm, affectionate, even. He brushes off the shoulder of Childe's suit, picking at non-existent loose threads.

Childe might be. He hasn't been to a function like this since he fucked off from his family. Perhaps conference dinners are different in Liyue—but he isn't holding his breath. These sorts of things are always the same no matter who is involved. "I'm..."

Zhongli leans forward and kisses his forehead, a lingering touch as he nuzzles the skin there. "You'll be fine. I'm here to help."

"I don't need help," says Childe quickly. A pause, and then: "Do you think I need help?"

"No," says Zhongli with a chuckle, "but they will side-eye you a bit if you don't use chopsticks. Have you been practicing?" He has, not that Zhongli needs to know. Childe snorts, sneering. "Truly, though," continues Zhongli, "it will be fine. This isn't a grandiose thing."

"You're just announcing your retirement." Childe sighs, pulling back to straighten the collar of Zhongli's dress shirt. "No biggie, or anything."

"While it isn't public knowledge, it isn't entirely unknown. Anyone within my general sphere has likely figured it out."

"But the press—"

"I've talked about it too, in passing. Little nods here and there that things will be slowing down for me. It won't come as a surprise. Don't you remember the article in Liyuen Men?" Oh, he does, but only because he'd jacked off to pictures of Zhongli clad in a fine suit, the collar of his shirt undone to his navel.

Childe hesitates, smoothing his fingers down the length of Zhongli's perfectly tailored suit jacket. "I'm just... still surprised? I mean, you aren't that old—"

"It isn't about my age." Zhongli laughs lightly. "I wouldn't expect you to understand, Childe, but when it comes to business, it's all about timing. Sometimes it's in everyone's better interest to end something early, in its prime before it's run its course. I do not wish to become thin and ragged, and so..." He waves vaguely. "I'd rather retire early and enjoy the rest of my life than do so too late and come to regret it."

"I guess I figured you'd throw yourself into work since you didn't have anyone."

Zhongli's expression melts into something fond. "Yes, well, that doesn't matter now, does it?" He tugs Childe's hand to his mouth, kissing it softly. "Besides, I've told you that I always had plans to ask you out—"

"You don't need to remind me!" Childe can feel how his face burns pink. "I just—" His tongue is thick in his mouth, awkward. "Look, shouldn't we get out there? Be early?"

"I enjoy teasing you." Zhongli dips forward then, crossing the space between them. The kiss he gives Childe is sweet, simple, even, just a quick peck that leaves Childe weak-kneed and legs like jelly. Fuck, he's just so gone. "But you're correct, we should find our seats."

"I'll be fine," says Childe. "I'm just... awkward." An oversimplification.

Zhongli holds his arm out expectantly and Childe slips his own through. "It's just dinner. Low-stress."

For some reason, though, worry curdles Childe.

It is Childe's first time around Zhongli's coworkers but it feels as though he's known them his entire life.

He's good at wooing people, well-versed in putting on a show and bending others to his will. Childe was a closer in this sort of business, called in to impress and seal the deal. This crowd is different. Childe goes into dinner blind, knowing no names and recognizing only one face, having seen it almost every day just outside Zhongli's office.

"Childe," greets Ganyu when he sits down, opening the table and easing the tension. The rest follow suit.

"So—" Ningguang is another business partner, not employed by Archon Industries but affiliated nonetheless. She swirls her wine glass as she looks Childe up and down. "Zhongli has told us about you—"

"He has?" Childe's voice cracks lightly.

A woman in a suit beside Ningguang bursts into laughter. "What do you mean 'He has'? This idiot won't shut up about you—"

"Beidou—" Zhongli tries to cut in to no avail.

"—blah, blah, Childe, yadda yadda, boyfriend. It's nice to finally put a face to the name."

"Boyfriend?"

Zhongli is pink in the face, tugging at his collar. "I—well—that is to say—"

"It is assumed, I think," says Ganyu, saving the awkward conversation. She has a sort of poise about her that's soothing and Childe thinks that it's no coincidence that she's Zhongli's hand-picked secretary. "Mr. Lapis is succinct with his words but when it comes to personal affairs, he's more private."

"That is it, yes." Zhongli tugs at his suit jacket primly. "But, for the sake of introduction—" He gestures to Childe with a flourish of his finely boned wrist. "I'm pleased for everyone to meet Childe, my partner."

They're exclusive, of course, but neither of them ever put a label on exactly where they lie. In Childe's heart, Zhongli is one thing alone—and it warms him that Zhongli apparently feels the same. Not that there was a doubt, but it means the world nonetheless.

"I—yes. Hi, I'm Childe." Not the most articulate but at least he manages words.

Ningguang regards him with a shrewd gaze, eyebrows drawn so high they nearly meet her hairline. Beidou laughs again, slapping the table in a way that is decidedly inappropriate. Childe doesn't miss the tiny twitch of Zhongli's mouth as he frowns.

"I have to say, you aren't exactly Zhongli's type—"

"Are you already teasing him?" Beidou gives Ningguang a curling grin. "Let young love live!"

"Zhongli is hardly young—"

"Hey, I'm not exactly a kid either," cuts in Childe rather defensively. "We aren't that different in age."

Beidou's gaze slides to him. "She didn't say you were a kid."

"She said, young love."

"Look, here's the deal, kid—"

"So you do think I'm a kid—"

Ningguang presses a hand against Beidou's arm, squeezing it. "Stop teasing him." Then she looks at Childe. "We've known Zhongli for over a decade and he's never..." She waves vaguely. "He talks about you incessantly. It's cute. You're just not what we expected."

Zhongli talks about him. At length. It's cute? Oh. Childe's mouth goes dry and he licks his lips. But that begs the question— "What exactly did you expect?"

"A woman?"

Ganyu reaches out and smacks Beidou's bicep. "Rude," she snaps, defensive of her boss. Childe hides a smirk behind his palm, laughter bleeding through him.

"If we're done laughing at my expense," says Zhongli, "I would like to enjoy my dinner in peace. The moment I make the announcement, I'll know anything but."

Ganyu levels Beidou with a surprisingly dangerous look and to Childe's surprise, the other woman backs away. Ninggaung is amused, leaning close to whisper something into Beidou's ear and Ganyu returns to her dinner with a strangely smug expression.

Childe leans over to Zhongli. "She's a little protective, eh?"

"Miss Ganyu is invaluable. Loyal, too."

"And when you retire?"

"She'll remain my accountant, I assure you."

Childe grins at that. "Yeah, as terrible with money as you are, you'll need it."

The dinner continues on like that—mild bickering and bantering. Mostly poking fun at Zhongli's expense because apparently, he doesn't really get out, let alone date. It's cute. A little bit warm. Childe loves watching Zhongli loosen underneath friendly teasing, and even the nervousness eases from his own stiff shoulders.

Zhongli notices, looking at him with an affectionate gaze. A presses a hand against Childe's knee underneath the table, squeezing tightly. Then it stays, resting there, a gentle weight against his leg.

Childe is surprised that the touch doesn't raise anything more than warm fuzzies in his chest.

Zhongli is a natural speaker in front of a crowd. Childe's been in love with his voice for years but there's something about the way that he croons into a microphone that makes everyone in the room lean into every word. That deep timbre. Fluid inflection. Zhongli could make anything sound sexy, even a retirement speech about himself.

Childe's cock twitches as he shifts in his seat.

Nothing escapes Beidou's sharp eye. "You okay there?"

Oh, he's fine, beyond fine. "I've just never seen him... He looks good up there, I guess. The suit fits like a glove."

Ningguang looks as though she's swallowed a lemon. "Perhaps don't ogle him so openly—"

"Oh let the kid ogle, he's earned it. Hey, tell me—is it hard being his boyfriend? Is he as much a stick in the mud as he seems at work?"

"I—"

"Miss Beidou!" Ganyu to the rescue, her hand whipping out to sink into Beidou's arm tightly. Childe could kiss her. Not that he would. Beidou huffs, but says nothing else, tugging her arm from Gaynu's grasp. Ganyu sighs softly before her gaze falls on Childe. "Don't mind them. We aren't used to Mr. Lapis being so..."

"Ooey-gooey?" offers Beidou, unhelpful.

"Distracted," says Ningguang. "Not that he isn't getting his work done. I did think that the merger might not go through so smoothly."

"All the hours at the office must've been rough for the budding relationship, eh?" Beidou grins, nodding her head.

Childe wonders why exactly she's so pressed about their personal life. "It wasn't too terrible," he says. It's the truth. He's spent more time worrying about Zhongli during those long nights, rather than the hours themselves.

"I would say so," says Ganyu, a twinkle in her eye. "Has Mr. Lapis told you how they met?" Childe's mouth falls open. Maybe he was too quick to relax around her. He'd thought Ganyu an ally in his corner but he doesn't like that amused expression spread across her face.

"I thought you were on my side!"

"I am, but that doesn't change the fact that it's cute."

"OH?" Beidou perks up at that, expressing her excitement a little too loudly. An old fogie from the table next to them glances over, his brow creased. Beidou winces, dropping her voice. "Ah, sorry, I meant, oh?"

Childe rubs his forehead. "I—it's just—"

"Childe has delivered Mr. Lapis's lunches nearly daily for the past several years." Ganyu sighs, leaning a chin against her palm. "It's rather adorable."

Beidou blinks, head tilted. Then she bursts into laughter that she just barely manages to cap. "Wait, wait—are you saying that you're the delivery boy? Oh, Gods, that's—"

"You can't tell me he actually tips you that well?" Ninggaung asks the pertinent question, which only makes Childe roll his eyes.

"It wasn't about the tips. Shit, you make me seem like some wallet chaser. No, he's just... he's always been nice. Asked me how my day was and wanted to get to know me. Over the years it just kinda..." Childe's heart skips a beat as he thinks about it, his words failing him.

The table falls quiet but not uncomfortable. It's Beidou who breaks the silence, her voice straight and not dripping with sarcasm. "Wow, that look on your face. Ah, okay. I'll stop teasing you."

Childe glances at her, confused. "Hm?"

"Shh!" Ganyu nudges his ribs. "I think this is the important part." She gestures to Zhongli up at the podium.

Childe stares, eyes washing over that perfectly fit suit of his. Zhongli holds onto the podium, his long fingers curling over the sides in a light grip. Just like the steering wheel that day. A flash of skin, his sleeve cuff rising just barely so. Zhongli likes to drag his wrist bone down the length of Childe's body, just barely touching it.

"With the business of the merger having concluded—" Childe was interested in those bits but the table distracted him enough to miss most of it. Damn. He'll ask Zhongli later if they aren't too distracted. "—there is one last thing to discuss tonight before we return to our dinners. Archon Industries has flourished for years and will continue to do so. With its new acquisition, however, I find myself rather obsolete. There are times when a CEO comes to realize that his work is complete and I'm pleased to say that it's my turn to hang up my suit jacket."

The audience murmurs, tittering about as they lean over and whisper. Zhongli waits for a dramatic moment before finishing, a soft smile on his face. "I look forward to my retirement as any man would. Thank you everyone for these years spent together and I bid you good luck in the years to come."

There is a toast. Someone in the front shares a few words that Childe can't hear. All he does is watch Zhongli, how his shoulders relax now that he's come public with his plans. He's been wound so tightly lately, worried as to how people might take it, even though their opinion doesn't matter. The tension eases from him as he raises a glass of champagne to acknowledge the toast.

Zhongli's eyes flit up and meet Childe's face from where he sits at the table. And, despite all the noise in the room, it's as if they're the only ones there, the moment entirely stolen.

Zhongli is terrible at being stealthy.

When Childe rose from the table, meeting Zhongli's questioning gaze, Beidou snorted, trying to hide it behind a cough. There's worry—with Childe, there always is—all eyes are on Zhongli now that he's made his announcement. He's the youngest retiree this side of Dragonspine and everyone wants to ask questions.

But the moment Zhongli tugs him into a coat closet all those thoughts are lost. The door clicks shut behind them and Childe's pressed against it, back flush to the polished wood. He melts against Zhongli when he leans close to press his nose into Childe's neck.

Zhongli inhales deeply, kissing the soft skin there. One hand curls into Childe's hair, petting it, nails scraping across his scalp. "I missed you."

"I haven't gone anywhere. I've been right here."

"Yes, but—" Another kiss to the underside of Childe's jaw, nibbling at the skin there. "I hate these sorts of functions, I've told you that. Too many people, too much work. I'd rather spend dinner at the office with you."

Simple and easy. Just the two of them, stacks of paperwork, and takeout from Wanmin's. Zhongli will laugh, fussing over Childe's terrible grasp of chopsticks. Childe will pout and the cycle will repeat until Zhongli kisses him. Then they just make out on the couch in the corner until Ganyu interrupts, blank-faced and unfazed.

It's slow-burning, unlike this hot moment in the closet. Remarkably chaste aside from the out-of-this-world blowjobs and teasing praise that Zhongli doles out in bed. Months that Childe hasn't been fucked properly—but he doesn't care. He's fine with Zhongli in his arms, holding him close, mouth slotted against his as they just kiss and kiss and kiss.

Zhongli tilts his chin back, hovering close as they share breath.

"We can't," says Childe. "Not here." The fitting room was bad enough. Childe couldn't look Baizhu in the face when they picked up his final suit a week later.

"Hm, I didn't pull you in here for anything indecent." He absolutely did, judging by the erection currently pressed into Childe's thigh.

"Zhongli—"

"Hush," he says, dragging his thumb across Childe's bottom lip. "I only want to kiss you."

Childe doesn't protest when Zhongli does, leaning in to capture his mouth. And it isn't just a kiss, it's a devouring thing, Zhongli's tongue sneaking between his lips and sliding across his teeth. Childe moans, swallowing Zhongli's breath. Zhongli holds him by the hip, pressing close, cock hard against Childe's thigh as he grinds against it.

"You said—"

"Mhm, and we are," replies Zhongli, pecking Childe's lips sweetly before slipping his tongue in again. Their mouths clash. Noses knock. Childe sighs into his mouth and Zhongli swallows it down, moaning against him, deep and low. The sound drips into Childe's gut, his cock instantly half-hard.

Which Zhongli notices. He doesn't touch him, just drags him to the side until their hips are slotted together just right, erections touching. "I'm—gods, we can't."

"We won't." Zhongli kisses down his jaw, biting a little too hard, sucking at the skin there until Childe's scrabbling against the door. "Just a little taste—"

"Zhongli, this isn't a taste, this is—" Childe squeaks when Zhongli presses his palm flat against his cock. He traces the length of it through his trousers with his fingers in a light touch. "Oh, gods."

And then he lets go and pulls back. Unlike Childe, Zhongli seems relatively composed. Not sweaty, nor pink-faced. He only tugs at his collar gently before straightening his clothes.

Childe is left leaning against the door on wobbly legs, barely standing. "Oh, fuck you," he snaps, willing his painful erection away.

Zhongli smirks, teasing. He leans back in for a short and sweet kiss, one that's quick and doesn't linger. "You were the one who said no, Childe, otherwise I'd be on my knees between your legs right now."

Childe gapes at him. His cock twitches, the image of that seared into his brain. He inhales deeply. Counts to three. Lets the breath go. His cock still aches but it's slowly receding, leaving behind a dull pulse that makes dissatisfaction flood Childe's core.

"Later," says Zhongli, cupping his face. "I've officially announced my retirement. I want to celebrate."

"How?"

The look Zhongli gives him is a feral, half-smile, half-smirk that leaves nothing to the imagination. "I thought I'd bring you back to my place," he says, brushing a hand down Childe's front, dusting away closet dust and coat lint. A slow and deliberate motion.

Oh. Childe's throat bobs and he finds words hard. "Yeah, okay—yeah that."

Zhongli laughs and pulls Childe from the door. Sneaks in another kiss to his cheek before whispering into his ear, "Are you ready to go back out there?"

His boner is mostly gone with only a pathetic half-chub left. "I'll be fine. The sooner this dinner is over the sooner we can—"

"Eager?" Childe shivers when Zhongli kisses the shell of his ear, knowing full well that he is. Childe pushes at him and Zhongli chuckles, reaching around to open the door.

They tumble out of the closet on loose legs, mostly put together but anyone with a good eye would know exactly what they were up to. Kiss-swollen lips, the hickey forming on Childe's neck; Zhongli looks smug as he politely closes the door behind him, eyes never leaving the now bruised skin just underneath Childe's jaw.

"Ajax?"

Childe's blood runs cold at the name and he stiffens, hanging there awkwardly in the venue lobby.

Before he can speak, Zhongli does. "Ah, Miss Ekaterina," he greets kindly.

Fuck, fuck, fuck—

"Mr. Zhongli, it's—" Childe finally looks, just in time to see Ekaterina bow serenely, her ginger hair tossing slightly as she dips low. "A pleasure, as always, but..." She pauses hesitantly. "Sir—" Zhongli's face melts into confusion as the last part is directly at Childe.

"Katya," he mutters. "Shit, this is—"

"Ekaterina, there you are. I need that list of fellows at our table. I can't remember the name of the young man sitting across from me and he's going on about books and publishing, and I just cannot make heads or tails of—"

Pyotr Tartaglia stops dead in the middle of his sentence the moment that he sees his son. He flounders there, his face turning a little red as rage sets in, but then he remembers he's in a public place and steadies himself. "Ajax," he says in a cool tone. "What a surprise."

"Ajax," repeats Zhongli.

"I've talked about him in our meetings, of course. My son. I certainly wasn't expecting to see him here. It's no secret, of course, but he's shirked his duties when it comes to the company for years."

"Sir, perhaps this isn't the right time—"

"Nonsense, Ekaterina. If Mr. Lapis is planning on doing business with my son, he should know exactly what he's getting into."

"Your son." Zhongli says it quietly as it dawns on him.

"Yes. Used to be my right-hand man but he just left one day. Flakey thing. I certainly wouldn't trust him with my assets if I were you. And yours are considerable. Tell me, just what has he promised you? His account management skills are good but he's more likely to just up and leave once he finds himself bored. That's how he's always been."

"Zhongli—"

"I must admit, I find myself surprised." Zhongli doesn't sound angry or even confused, he's just very quiet, a line etched into the space between his eyebrows. "This is why you didn't want to come, isn't it? This is why you were nervous?"

"Not because I thought he'd be here, I just—look, Zhongli, I left all that behind because I wanted something simpler. I was nervous about slipping back into a suit and my old habits. I just... you wouldn't have liked me back then. I hate who I was, what I was."

Ekaterina looks between the two of them, head tilted, but Childe's father scoffs, no doubt thinking that they're just talking business.

"Childe—"

"What are you even doing here?" Childe asks his father. "Isn't this a little too far south for family business?"

Pyotr blinks. "The merger," he says as if the answer is obvious. "Harbinger Holdings is absorbing Archon Industries. If you didn't know that, why are you here?"

Childe looks at Zhongli in fear. He's fucked up, all of this is fucked up. This isn't going to end well and he has to get out of there. Zhongli expects it before he even turns away, already reaching for him.

"Wait," he starts.

Childe expertly maneuvers away from his grasp. "No, I need to—"

"Childe."

"Zhongli, I need to leave."

"You're—"

"Please, just let me go!" Childe doesn't mean to snap it, his voice echoing in the foyer. They all stand there stunned, but it's Zhongli whose expression is entirely unreadable. Shock or horror. Maybe disgust. It has to be.

So Childe turns and he runs right out the front door, fleet-footed and fast, never once looking back, heart breaking a little with every second that passes.